JACKSONVILLE – It's a new season, with a new staff.

For Arik Armstead, that's only part of what's new as he prepares to enter his second season with the Jaguars. All this new means something very important for the veteran defensive lineman.

A new start – and a new opportunity.

"As long as you're in the NFL, there's always something to prove," he said.

Armstead, the the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2024, joined senior writer John Oehser for this 2025 offseason O-Zone Podcast. He discussed multiple topics, including his move back inside to defensive tackle under the Jaguars' new defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile.

"I think that's where I'm best," Armstead said of the tackle position. "I've played both in my career and had success at both, but I can have the biggest effect on the quarterback playing and rushing against guards and centers. That's what I do best."

Armstead, after signing with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason, played mostly end last season after playing mostly tackle in his last several seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

"When I'm playing defensive tackle full-time, now I have more opportunities to affect the game on first, second and third down," he said. "I'll have more opportunities to have a big impact on the game."

Armstead, the No. 17 overall selection by the 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft, spent his first nine seasons with the 49ers. The Jaguars went 4-13 in Armstead's first season with the team before hiring Head Coach Liam Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli early this offseason.

"I think we're on the forefront of a promising season," Armstead said. "There's a lot of newness, which I think is great. There are a lot of first-timers – a first-time head coach, a first-time general manager, a first-time defensive coordinator. With the first-timers, they bring a refreshed energy. You know they want to get it right.

"They're doing everything they can to make sure we're heading in the direction we need to be."

Armstead, after being a full-time starter for his last eight seasons in San Francisco, started one game last season and spent most of the season rotating behind starters Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.

"I believe everything happens for a reason," Armstead said. "I'm really excited about this opportunity that I have. I've been through a lot of situations in my career, having success and having failures, having adversity, things not working out. I've always overcome them.

"I've earned a lot of respect in this league and I'm excited to have the opportunity to do the same thing again."

Listen to the entire O-Zone Podcast with Arik Armstead here.