The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2024 season was a painful unraveling of expectations, finishing with a 4-13 record that marked their worst performance since 2021. Despite high hopes after signing Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen, Tyson Campbell, and Foye Oluokun to massive contracts, the Jaguars stumbled out of the gate with a 0-4 start and never recovered. Ten of their losses were by one score or less, the most in a single season since 1966, highlighting a competitive team that lacked closing power.
Defensive lapses (31st in yards allowed, 390 per game) and Lawrence’s injuries—a concussion and non-throwing shoulder surgery—derailed the campaign. Owner Shad Khan called the 2024 roster the most talented in team history. He fired head coach Doug Pederson after a 26-23 overtime loss to Indianapolis, ending his three-year tenure (22-29 record) that peaked with a 2022 wild-card comeback.
Sweeping front-office changes followed. General manager Trent Baalke’s tenure, marred by friction with Pederson and a controversial Travon Walker-over-Aidan Hutchinson draft pick in 2022, ended abruptly when coaching candidates like Ben Johnson hesitated due to his presence. Initially resistant to a full overhaul, Khan fired Baalke and hired James Gladstone, a 34-year-old former Rams scouting strategist, as the NFL’s youngest GM.
This cleared Liam Coen, Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, to accept the head coaching role after a dramatic hiring saga involving a declined second interview and a Bucs extension offer. Coen’s success with Baker Mayfield (4,500 yards, 41 TDs in 2024) and his balanced offensive approach made him Khan’s choice to revive Lawrence and the Jaguars. With Tony Boselli as VP of football operations and Grant Udinski as offensive coordinator, the new regime signals a fresh start.
Previewing the Jaguars Offense
The Jaguars’ 2024 offense ranked 24th in yards (319.8 per game) and 27th in points (18.8), hampered by Lawrence’s injuries and a lackluster supporting cast. Lawrence managed 2,904 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 12 games before his injuries, a far cry from his 2022 breakout (4,113 yards). The offensive line, which allowed 44 sacks (28th in the NFL), lost left tackle Cam Robinson to a midseason trade and guard Brandon Scherff to free agency.
The receiving corps, led by rookie Brian Thomas Jr.’s 1,058 yards and eight touchdowns, suffered after Christian Kirk’s collarbone injury limited him to eight games (421 yards). Tight end Evan Engram’s departure to Denver further depleted targets. Enter 2025, and the offense has been transformed. The blockbuster draft trade for Travis Hunter, a two-way star from Colorado, gives Lawrence a potential All-Pro receiver who can also play cornerback.
Hunter’s 1,152 college receiving yards and elite route-running pair with Thomas Jr. to form a dynamic duo, while free agent Dyami Brown adds depth. The running game, previously 29th (96.8 yards per game), gets a boost with rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuin Allen joining Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, who outperformed Etienne with 4.8 yards per carry in 2024. Coen’s balanced approach, which powered Tampa Bay to fourth in rushing yards and third in passing yards in 2024, should maximize this group.
The offensive line sees upgrades with free agents Robert Hainsey (center) and Patrick Mekari (guard), alongside draft pick Wyatt Milum. Hainsey’s 74.1 PFF pass-blocking grade and Mekari’s versatility stabilize the interior, while Walker Little’s emergence at left tackle (72.3 PFF grade) protects Lawrence’s blind side. Expectations are high: Coen’s play-calling, which elevated Mayfield to a 71.4% completion rate, could push Lawrence to 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns if he stays healthy. The offense is projected to climb to a top-15 unit, averaging 340-350 yards per game, with Hunter and Thomas Jr. combining for 2,000-plus receiving yards.
Previewing the Jaguars’ Defense
Jacksonville’s 2024 defense was a liability, ranking 31st in yards allowed (390 per game) and 27th in points (24.9). A pass rush led by Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen (18.5 combined sacks) was undercut by a weak interior line, with Maason Smith’s three sacks as the next-best total. The secondary struggled, allowing 254.6 passing yards per game (30th), exacerbated by Tyson Campbell’s regression and Darnell Savage’s bust signing. Linebackers Devin Lloyd and Foye Oluokun remained bright spots, combining for 183 tackles, but the unit lacked depth.
The 2025 offseason brought targeted fixes. New defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, formerly Miami’s linebackers coach, introduces a 4-3 scheme emphasizing pressure and coverage. Free agents Dennis Gardeck and Emmanuel Ogbah add edge depth, while Jourdan Lewis’ three-year, $30M deal bolsters the nickel position. Draft picks Travis Hunter (when at cornerback) and third-round safety Caleb Ransaw inject youth into a secondary that lost Andre Cisco. The interior line, with Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton, remains a concern, but rookie Jack Kiser adds linebacker versatility.
Expectations center on incremental improvement. With Hines-Allen’s 8.5 sacks as a baseline, the pass rush could hit 35-40 sacks with Gardeck and Ogbah contributing. The secondary, bolstered by Lewis and Jarrian Jones’ late-2024 promise (three starts, one interception), aims to cut passing yards allowed to 230 per game. If Lloyd and Oluokun maintain their form, the defense could rank 18th-20th in yards allowed, a leap from 2024’s 31st.
Projected Outlook: A Division Title or Bust
The Jaguars enter 2025 as a team poised to compete for the AFC South title, but their path to the postseason hinges on winning the division outright. A 9-8 record seems likely, a significant jump from 2024’s 4-13, driven by Liam Coen’s offensive expertise and a healthier Trevor Lawrence., The AFC South is winnable, with Houston projected at 9-8 and Indianapolis and Tennessee at 4-13, per Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton. Unlike the AFC West’s Denver (11-6 projection) or the AFC North’s Cincinnati (10-7), the Jaguars face less competition in their division, where no team is a juggernaut.
However, a wild-card berth is a tougher ask. Teams like the Broncos, Chargers (10-7 projection), and Bengals, with elite quarterbacks and stronger defenses, hold an edge in the crowded AFC playoff race.
Jacksonville’s revamped offense, led by Lawrence throwing to Hunter and Thomas Jr., could produce 24-26 points per game, but the defense’s 31st-ranked 2024 performance limits their ceiling against top-tier competition. Key games—Week 2 vs. Kansas City, Week 5 at Houston, and Week 10 vs. Denver will test their mettle. A split in division games (3-3) and wins over Carolina, Seattle, and the Raiders could secure 9-8, enough to edge Houston for the AFC South crown.
Coen’s hiring is a game-changer. His balanced attack, which transformed Tampa Bay into a top-four rushing and passing offense, should unlock Lawrence’s potential, as Jaguars on Sports Illustrated noted: “Coen’s the key to a playoff run.” If the defense improves to league-average and Lawrence delivers a 4,000-yard season, the Jaguars can reclaim the division they won in 2022. While a deep playoff run may be a year away, a 9-8 finish and an AFC South title are within reach, signaling a new era in Jacksonville.
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