Winning or losing, the city of Jacksonville continues its love affair with its favorite home team: The Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags. The Big Cats. The Sacksonville Jaguars. The Cardiac Cats. Team Teal.
Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane to recall the 30-year history of Jacksonville’s favorite hometown team and how they’ve helped to shape our city.
The story begins with a shoe magnate named Wayne Weaver. He led the expansion bid that brought the team to Jacksonville. But he didn’t do it alone. The city was behind him every step of the way and the celebration was epic when the NFL awarded Jax the rights to their very own team. On November 30, 1993, the big cats were born!
And those cats came out of the gate strong in 1995! They won their first game as an NFL team against the Houston Oilers. And by the very next year, the team made it to the AFC Championship Game and knocked the Denver Broncos out in the divisional round. The Patriots ultimately bested them that year in the Championship but many think that that was the moment the Jaguars became legends in our city.
Other highlights in Jaguar’s history:
· They made it to the AFC Championship again in 1999.
· The Jaguars have made the playoffs EIGHT times. And while they haven’t played in a Super Bowl, they aren’t alone. Neither have the Browns, the Lions, or the Texans.
· Before 2007, no team had ever gone to Pittsburgh twice in one season and won both times. In December 2007, the Jaguars won 29-22 after Fred Taylor scored on a 12-yard run with under two minutes left. Steelers’ running back Willie Parker said after the game: “The Jaguars are the Pittsburgh of the South!” Then, 10 years later, they did it again!!
· And in 2018, the Jags FINALLY beat the much-lauded Patriots, to the delight of not only Jacksonville, but much of the rest of the country too.
· In fact, The Jaguars have won a division title four times – twice as part of the AFC Central Division and twice as part of the AFC South.
· Shad Khan purchased the Jaguars in 2011 and brought the cats across the pond to play in London starting in 2013.
And it isn’t just football that has made the Jags legends in the River City. The Jaguars and their Foundation have made an incredible impact on our community.
In case you didn’t know:
· We have the franchise to thank for the construction of Daily’s Place, a state-of-the-art amphitheater adjacent to the Bank Field.
· The Jaguars partner with organizations like LIFT JAX and Construction Ready to help eradicate generational poverty and prepare people for construction careers.
· KIPP Jacksonville Schools and the NFL Foundation worked with the Jags to build a football field and track at KIPP Bold City High School.
· The Jaguars Foundation helps numerous organizations and have donated over 150 football helmets to area youth for Play Football Month.
As we inch closer to the 30th anniversary next month, we have much to celebrate – including a new logo incorporating the number 30. Trevor Lawrence is a fan favorite, and this helps to ensure that confidence remains high that the team will achieve greatness once again.
And we all know that the city will love their Jaguars no matter what!
What will you be doing to celebrate the Jaguar's 30th?
Comments