9 All Time Jacksonville Jaguars Figures
In honor of the recent retirement of Maurice Jones-Drew, here's a list of nine all time favorite figures associated with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
1. Fred Taylor
University of Florida’s Fred Taylor was drafted ninth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. The Jags drafted Taylor as the first of their two picks that they had acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. In his first year with the Jags, Taylor started 12 out of 15 games, rushing for 1,233 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.
Taylor’s suffered a hamstring injury in his second year with the Jags, which caused him to mix six games. In the 10 games he did play, however, rushed over 700 yards, ranking second on the team. In this same season, Taylor would record the longest run in playoff history with his 90-yard touchdown run against Miami.
Taylor’s success continued in the first year of the new millennium, as he ranked sixth overall in the NFL, rushing 1,399 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. However, in 2001, Taylor would fall on hard times. He suffered a groin injury that took him out for the season, and then he had to deal with legal issues as his agent faced fraud and laundering charges.
2002 was Taylor’s rebound year as he would face no injuries, play all 16 games, and would become rush over 1,315 yards - the third most in the team’s history. In 2005, Taylor, alongside Maurice Jones-Drew, would run for a combined 2,087 yards—the most by two rushers in Jags history. In 2007, Taylor would surpass rushing 10,000 yards in his career.
Taylor’s final season with the Jags would come in 2008. In 2009, Taylor was released after 11 seasons with the Jags. He would sign a two-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2009.
2. Mark Brunell
The Jags snagged Mark Brunell after two years with the Packers in 1995.
Brunell’s first year with the Jags was an extremely successful one - he would play 13 games, complete over 200 passes, throw for over 2,000 yards, and rush for almost 500. Brunell’s success as a Jag would continue over the next few years. Between 1995 and 200, Brunell would be selected to go to the Pro Bowl three times, and would be named the Pro Bowl MVP in 1997. Brunell would help the Jags gain their first AFC Central Division title, making the Jags the first NFL expansion team to make the playoffs three times in their first four seasons. Brunell led the Jags to the 1996 AFC Championship Game, too, but they unfortunately would not win.
Brunell would be benched in favor of Byron Leftwich in the third game of 2003. His would be the last time Brunell took the field as a significant member of the Jags.
3. Jimmy Smith
https://cdn.idesigntimes.com/data/images/full/2013/05/14/15049.jpg
Jimmy Smith was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft straight out of Jackson State University to the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, Smith had a rocky start with the NFL, with a broken leg in the ’92 season and a nearly fatal appendectomy in ’93.
In ’95, Smith was picked up by the Jags. By ’96, Smith had emerged as a dominant receiver on the team as he helped them to their ’96 AFC Championship appearance. Smith would also help lead the Jags to playoff appearances for four straight years in a row. Smith would play for the jags for several more years, setting records that included: most career receptions, most career receiving yards, and most receiving touchdowns.
In 2001, Smith ran into some drug trouble. While no charges were ever filed, Smith did receive a four game suspension and was placed into the NFL’s substance abuse program.
In 2006, Smith announced his retirement from the NFL. Smith would retire 7th in NFL history, with over 800 catches; and 11th in league history with over 12,000 yards.
4. Tony Boselli
https://www.amazon.com/BOSELLI-JACKSONVILLE-JAGUARS-SPORTS-ACTION/dp/B003THXM56
In 1995, the Jags drafted Tony Boselli as a second pick out of University of Southern California, marking the team’s first draft ever in the franchise’s history.
Boselli proved to be a strong player, helping lead the Jags to the ’96 playoffs on a 9-7 record. They ended up beating both the Bills and the Broncos before losing the AFC Championship game. Boselli would become a five-time Pro Bowler and was considered the best left tackle in the league.
Today, Boselli is a sports commentator and has founded the Boselli Foundation, which helps at-risk kids in Jacksonville’s Northside.
5. Tom Coughlin
https://da.radio.cbssports.com/2014/11/20/steve-beuerlein-my-experience-with-coughlin-wasnt-positive/
Tom Coughlin would be the first head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coughlin's success as the head coach at Boston College led to his subsequent hiring in Jacksonville.
Coughlin coached the Jags for eight regular seasons and would be credited with creating the most successful expansion team in NFL history. Coughlin would take the Jags to the AFC Championship in their second year as a franchise. This would lead to Coughlin being named Coach of the Year in 1996. Coughlin would take the Jags to the Championship again in 1999 with a league-high season record of 14-2.
In his first five years as a couch, Coughlin's Jaguars won 49 regular season games. This was a remarkable average for an expansion team in the NFL. Unfortunately, Coughlin’s next three years would only result in a 19-229 average. Coughlin would be fired by owner at the time, Wayne Weaver.
Coughlin would go on to become the very successful coach of the New York Giants.
6. Maurice Jones-Drew
https://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/pg-photo/2013/05/24/0ap2000000206447/maurice-jones-drew-rb-jacksonville-jaguars_pg_600.jpg
Maurice Jones-Drew was drafted by the Jags in 2006, at the age of 21. Initially used for mostly kick-off returns, Jones-Drew would soon blow up. In the Jags December game against the Colts, Jones-Drew set a franchise record with 166 rushing yards. In the same game, Jones-Drew would complete a touchdown off a 93-yard kickoff return. Jones-Drew would finish third in the NFL overall in both kickoff returns and touchdowns scored. He also led all AFC running backs in scrimmage to yards per touch.
Jones-Drew successes would carry well beyond his first season with the Jag. In 2007 he would record his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. In 2009, Jones-Drew would rush for 177 yards and score two touchdowns on only 8 carries—this performance was only done by two other players in NFL history. In 2011, Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing yards.
By 2012, Jones-Drew was ready to move on. He started the season by not showing up to organized team activities or training camp. Jones-Drew still had two years in his contract, though. Because he missed the entire 2012 off-season, he was penalized by being placed on reserve for the entirety of the season. In 2013, his final season with the Jags, he would have 230 carries and over 00 yards before becoming a free agent in 2014.
7. Wayne and Delores Weaver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville_Jaguars
Wayne Weaver would be the first owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Weaver would share ownership over the team with his wife, Delores Weaver. Wayne Weaver owns the successful “Nine West” shoe store. He and his wife were awarded the Jags NFL franchise in the early 90s. Delores would become the Chairman and CEO of the Jaguars Foundation, which grants over $1 million annually to organizations that benefit economically and socially disadvantaged youths and families.
The Weavers would own the Jags for several years to come, overseeing the team as they set records and made it to several AFC Championship games. In 2011, however, it was announced that the Weaver’s would sell the team to Shahid Khan for $760 million.
8. Keenan McCardell
https://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/photo-gallery/Happy-Birthday-Keenan-McCardell/ceec7bd7-eabd-4432-99cd-f1698d10a347
Keenan McCardell played for the Redskins and the Browns before receiving his contract with the Jags in 1996. McCardell’s impact in the NFL had been pretty minimal up until this point. His last season with the Browns proved to be his most significant season prior to being a Jag—with over 1,000 yards and 80 receptions. In his first season with the Jags, however, McCardell made 85 catches and earned himself his first ever trip to the Pro Bowl. McCardell would shine even more when Jimmy Smith joined the roster—as the two were dubbed “Thunder and Lighting.”
Unfortunately, McCardell would be waived, as the Jags faced a salary cap dilemma. McCardell would finish his six season career with the Jags with nearly 500 receptions and over 6,000 yards.
9. Donovin Darius
https://www.spokeo.com/Donovin+Darius+1
Donovin Darius was picked up 25th overall by the Jags right out of Syracuse in 1998. At the time, this was the highest pick ever by a team for a defensive back. Darius quickly became one of the Jags best defensive backs, with 108 tackles in only 14 games. Darius would switch to a safety position the following year.
Darius would build rapport within the team over the next several years his name would become “big” again in 2004, when he led the secondary in tackles for his seventh straight season and posted career highs in both forced fumbles and interceptions. However, 2004 would bring Darius a lawsuit, as he faced a $75,000 fine for an illegal tackle.
Darius signed an extension in 2005 that was supposed to bring him through the season. Unfortunately, however, Darius tore a ligament in 2005 and would break his leg in 2006. Before he was released by the Jags in 2006, he was the longest active Jags player to date.
Article by Kristen Pickrell. Title image courtesy of https://www.annebanas.com/muralprints.htm
University of Florida’s Fred Taylor was drafted ninth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. The Jags drafted Taylor as the first of their two picks that they had acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. In his first year with the Jags, Taylor started 12 out of 15 games, rushing for 1,233 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.
Taylor’s suffered a hamstring injury in his second year with the Jags, which caused him to mix six games. In the 10 games he did play, however, rushed over 700 yards, ranking second on the team. In this same season, Taylor would record the longest run in playoff history with his 90-yard touchdown run against Miami.
Taylor’s success continued in the first year of the new millennium, as he ranked sixth overall in the NFL, rushing 1,399 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. However, in 2001, Taylor would fall on hard times. He suffered a groin injury that took him out for the season, and then he had to deal with legal issues as his agent faced fraud and laundering charges.
2002 was Taylor’s rebound year as he would face no injuries, play all 16 games, and would become rush over 1,315 yards - the third most in the team’s history. In 2005, Taylor, alongside Maurice Jones-Drew, would run for a combined 2,087 yards—the most by two rushers in Jags history. In 2007, Taylor would surpass rushing 10,000 yards in his career.
Taylor’s final season with the Jags would come in 2008. In 2009, Taylor was released after 11 seasons with the Jags. He would sign a two-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2009.
2. Mark Brunell
The Jags snagged Mark Brunell after two years with the Packers in 1995.
Brunell’s first year with the Jags was an extremely successful one - he would play 13 games, complete over 200 passes, throw for over 2,000 yards, and rush for almost 500. Brunell’s success as a Jag would continue over the next few years. Between 1995 and 200, Brunell would be selected to go to the Pro Bowl three times, and would be named the Pro Bowl MVP in 1997. Brunell would help the Jags gain their first AFC Central Division title, making the Jags the first NFL expansion team to make the playoffs three times in their first four seasons. Brunell led the Jags to the 1996 AFC Championship Game, too, but they unfortunately would not win.
Brunell would be benched in favor of Byron Leftwich in the third game of 2003. His would be the last time Brunell took the field as a significant member of the Jags.
3. Jimmy Smith
https://cdn.idesigntimes.com/data/images/full/2013/05/14/15049.jpg
Jimmy Smith was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft straight out of Jackson State University to the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, Smith had a rocky start with the NFL, with a broken leg in the ’92 season and a nearly fatal appendectomy in ’93.
In ’95, Smith was picked up by the Jags. By ’96, Smith had emerged as a dominant receiver on the team as he helped them to their ’96 AFC Championship appearance. Smith would also help lead the Jags to playoff appearances for four straight years in a row. Smith would play for the jags for several more years, setting records that included: most career receptions, most career receiving yards, and most receiving touchdowns.
In 2001, Smith ran into some drug trouble. While no charges were ever filed, Smith did receive a four game suspension and was placed into the NFL’s substance abuse program.
In 2006, Smith announced his retirement from the NFL. Smith would retire 7th in NFL history, with over 800 catches; and 11th in league history with over 12,000 yards.
4. Tony Boselli
https://www.amazon.com/BOSELLI-JACKSONVILLE-JAGUARS-SPORTS-ACTION/dp/B003THXM56
In 1995, the Jags drafted Tony Boselli as a second pick out of University of Southern California, marking the team’s first draft ever in the franchise’s history.
Boselli proved to be a strong player, helping lead the Jags to the ’96 playoffs on a 9-7 record. They ended up beating both the Bills and the Broncos before losing the AFC Championship game. Boselli would become a five-time Pro Bowler and was considered the best left tackle in the league.
Today, Boselli is a sports commentator and has founded the Boselli Foundation, which helps at-risk kids in Jacksonville’s Northside.
5. Tom Coughlin
https://da.radio.cbssports.com/2014/11/20/steve-beuerlein-my-experience-with-coughlin-wasnt-positive/
Tom Coughlin would be the first head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coughlin's success as the head coach at Boston College led to his subsequent hiring in Jacksonville.
Coughlin coached the Jags for eight regular seasons and would be credited with creating the most successful expansion team in NFL history. Coughlin would take the Jags to the AFC Championship in their second year as a franchise. This would lead to Coughlin being named Coach of the Year in 1996. Coughlin would take the Jags to the Championship again in 1999 with a league-high season record of 14-2.
In his first five years as a couch, Coughlin's Jaguars won 49 regular season games. This was a remarkable average for an expansion team in the NFL. Unfortunately, Coughlin’s next three years would only result in a 19-229 average. Coughlin would be fired by owner at the time, Wayne Weaver.
Coughlin would go on to become the very successful coach of the New York Giants.
6. Maurice Jones-Drew
https://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/pg-photo/2013/05/24/0ap2000000206447/maurice-jones-drew-rb-jacksonville-jaguars_pg_600.jpg
Maurice Jones-Drew was drafted by the Jags in 2006, at the age of 21. Initially used for mostly kick-off returns, Jones-Drew would soon blow up. In the Jags December game against the Colts, Jones-Drew set a franchise record with 166 rushing yards. In the same game, Jones-Drew would complete a touchdown off a 93-yard kickoff return. Jones-Drew would finish third in the NFL overall in both kickoff returns and touchdowns scored. He also led all AFC running backs in scrimmage to yards per touch.
Jones-Drew successes would carry well beyond his first season with the Jag. In 2007 he would record his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. In 2009, Jones-Drew would rush for 177 yards and score two touchdowns on only 8 carries—this performance was only done by two other players in NFL history. In 2011, Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing yards.
By 2012, Jones-Drew was ready to move on. He started the season by not showing up to organized team activities or training camp. Jones-Drew still had two years in his contract, though. Because he missed the entire 2012 off-season, he was penalized by being placed on reserve for the entirety of the season. In 2013, his final season with the Jags, he would have 230 carries and over 00 yards before becoming a free agent in 2014.
7. Wayne and Delores Weaver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville_Jaguars
Wayne Weaver would be the first owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Weaver would share ownership over the team with his wife, Delores Weaver. Wayne Weaver owns the successful “Nine West” shoe store. He and his wife were awarded the Jags NFL franchise in the early 90s. Delores would become the Chairman and CEO of the Jaguars Foundation, which grants over $1 million annually to organizations that benefit economically and socially disadvantaged youths and families.
The Weavers would own the Jags for several years to come, overseeing the team as they set records and made it to several AFC Championship games. In 2011, however, it was announced that the Weaver’s would sell the team to Shahid Khan for $760 million.
8. Keenan McCardell
https://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/photo-gallery/Happy-Birthday-Keenan-McCardell/ceec7bd7-eabd-4432-99cd-f1698d10a347
Keenan McCardell played for the Redskins and the Browns before receiving his contract with the Jags in 1996. McCardell’s impact in the NFL had been pretty minimal up until this point. His last season with the Browns proved to be his most significant season prior to being a Jag—with over 1,000 yards and 80 receptions. In his first season with the Jags, however, McCardell made 85 catches and earned himself his first ever trip to the Pro Bowl. McCardell would shine even more when Jimmy Smith joined the roster—as the two were dubbed “Thunder and Lighting.”
Unfortunately, McCardell would be waived, as the Jags faced a salary cap dilemma. McCardell would finish his six season career with the Jags with nearly 500 receptions and over 6,000 yards.
9. Donovin Darius
https://www.spokeo.com/Donovin+Darius+1
Donovin Darius was picked up 25th overall by the Jags right out of Syracuse in 1998. At the time, this was the highest pick ever by a team for a defensive back. Darius quickly became one of the Jags best defensive backs, with 108 tackles in only 14 games. Darius would switch to a safety position the following year.
Darius would build rapport within the team over the next several years his name would become “big” again in 2004, when he led the secondary in tackles for his seventh straight season and posted career highs in both forced fumbles and interceptions. However, 2004 would bring Darius a lawsuit, as he faced a $75,000 fine for an illegal tackle.
Darius signed an extension in 2005 that was supposed to bring him through the season. Unfortunately, however, Darius tore a ligament in 2005 and would break his leg in 2006. Before he was released by the Jags in 2006, he was the longest active Jags player to date.
Article by Kristen Pickrell. Title image courtesy of https://www.annebanas.com/muralprints.htm