JACKSONVILLE – What was wasn't good enough.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence said while that was absolutely true of the Jaguars in 2024, that can change – and should – dramatically in 2025. And yes, he said, a turnaround can happen fast.
"One hundred percent," he said.
Lawrence spoke to the media recently in the wake of a 4-13 2024 regular season, with Head Coach Doug Pederson being dismissed the day after the season. The Jaguars are currently searching for a new head coach, and Lawrence and multiple Jaguars players recently emphasized this much:
While there is "100 percent" confidence in a turnaround, such a turnaround can't all depend on the head coach.
"From a player standpoint, there are a lot of things we have to get better at," tight end Evan Engram said, with wide receiver Christian Kirk adding: "We all had a hand in this."
Lawrence, like Kirk and Engram a team leader, agreed.
"We have the guys to do it, we need to just find more consistency and I think that we need to get some juice back in this place," Lawrence said. "It seems like we've lost that in the past year and a half or so for whatever reason, and we've got to get that back."
Lawrence emphasized that a coaching change won't fix all issues, adding "We have to take our part too."
"This isn't just, 'We fired Coach Pederson, so now that's all on him,''' Lawrence said. "It's on us as players, too. We have to get that energy back, we have to take our part of it too because we're the ones out there on the field playing. We have to be the ones to really change our trajectory."
The Jaguars finished 9-8 in Pederson's first two seasons as head coach, winning the AFC South title in 2022 and missing the title in 2023 when they lost in the regular-season finale at Tennessee. They lost five of their last six games that season, then lost their first four this season.
The Jaguars finished this season losing eight of their last 10 games, setting an NFL record for the Super Bowl era by losing 10 games by seven points or fewer.
"We have a lot of same guys in the room who have been to the been to the playoffs," running back Travis Etienne Jr. said. "We have to find a way to get to the playoffs. Next year is all about finish, taking those one-score games and turning them into wins and not losses.
"The experience we got through those situations this year is going to help us next year."
The Jaguars, after interviewing 10 candidates in the first round of the search for a head coach, have second – in-person – interviews scheduled this week.
"At the end of the day, we're the players," Engram said. "We're the ones out there getting it done. I definitely think that we'll find somebody that's going to continue to put us in the right positions to make those plays.
"But I think as a leader and a captain of the locker room and of the team, there are a lot of things that we have to be better at on all three phases of the ball for any coach to be successful here."
Added Engram, "It's not just the coaching. It's not just one part of it. It's everybody."
NOTABLE
- Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby made major improvements in 2024 and said he believes there's more to come in that vein. "That's what it's all about," he said shortly after the end of the '24 regular season. Bigsby, a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, rushed for 766 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries in 2024 after rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries as a rookie. He emerged as a big-play threat with the ability to run between the tackles with power. "I feel like I grew," he said. "It's a lot of growing to continue to do, and just learning how the game is, and it slowed down a little bit further. Next year, God willing we'll come back out here and compete at a high level again."
From debuting our Prowler Throwbacks, Shell White Alternate Helmets, inducting Tom Coughlin into the Pride of the Jaguars, playing in London and so much more we sure did make some epic memories in the 2024 season. Swipe through top photos from our 30th season in DUUUVAL! 🏈🎉🐆
2024 My Cause My Cleats
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
DE Travon Walker (44)
2024 Jaguars Training Camp
QB Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville, Fla. —Jaguars tight end Evan Engram visits North Florida School of Special Education on December 3, 2024.
TE Evan Engram — North Florida School of Special Education
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
TE Brenton Strange (85)
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars unveil their "Prowler" throwback uniforms at the team store on July 18, 2024.
Legend OL Tony Boselli ('95-01) and S Andre Cisco
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
QB Trevor Lawrence (16) and RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1)
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars unveil their "Prowler" throwback uniforms at the team store on July 18, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville, Fla. – Shop With a Jaguar at Academy Sports and Outdoors on December 17, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Jacksonville, Fla. — Images from the 2024 DUUUVAL Draft Party at EverBank Stadium on April 25, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7) and WR Josh Reynolds (87)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image of the official PRIDE OF THE JAGUARS jacket taken on September 27, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
Jacksonville, Fla. — Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for a Boys and Girls Club in the Historic Eastside at Russel B. Cook Park on November 7, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image from The ROAR of the Jaguars "Prowler" throwback uniform photoshoot on October 1, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
P Logan Cooke (9), QB Trevor Lawrence (16), DE Travon Walker (44), and DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville, Fla. — An image of Jaguar Legends and Pride of The Jaguars members Tony Boselli (left) and Fred Taylor (right) taken on September 27, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
Watford, U.K. — Jaguars cheerleaders during practice at The Grove on October 18, 2024.
Watford, U.K. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) and fans after practice at The Grove on October 18, 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars football equipment staff prepare the "prowler" throwback uniforms in preparation for Sunday on October 2, 2024.
Hold on, we're going to need a replay of these top plays 🤩 From backflips on field, to game winning field goals dive into the best game action photos throughout the 2024 season! 🏈
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
RB Tank Bigsby (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
K Cam Little (39)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
S Darnell Savage (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears
TE Evan Engram (17)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (99)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
RB Tank Bigsby (4) and OL Ezra Cleveland (76)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
S Daniel Thomas (20)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41) and DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
CB Tyson Campbell (3), LB Foyesade Oluokun (23), DE Josh Hines-Allen (41), LB Devin Lloyd (33), and LB Ventrell Miller (51)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
OL Ezra Cleveland (76) and QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (99)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (1) and WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
CB Ronald Darby (25)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
TE Luke Farrell (89), OL Anton Harrison (77), OL Brandon Scherff (68), OL Mitch Morse (65), QB Trevor Lawrence (16), OL Ezra Cleveland (76) and OL Cam Robinson (74)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
S Darnell Savage (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers
TE Evan Engram (17)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
QB Mac Jones (10)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
LB Yasir Abdullah (56)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
S Antonio Johnson (26), LB Devin Lloyd (33), CB Montaric Brown (30), CB De'Antre Prince (24), and S Andre Cisco (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
DE Josh Hines-Allen (41)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers
TE Evan Engram (17)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
CB Christian Braswell (21), RB Tank Bigsby (4), WR Tim Jones (15), LB Yasir Abdullah (56), DT Esezi Otomewo (90), LB Tanner Muse (55), LB Caleb Johnson (57) and S Daniel Thomas (20)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
DE Travon Walker (44)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
S Andre Cisco (5) and LB Foyesade Oluokun (23)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
LB Devin Lloyd (33)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
RB Tank Bigsby (4) and QB Trevor Lawrence (16)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
LB Devin Lloyd (33)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
RB Tank Bigsby (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
WR Parker Washington (11)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers
OL Mitch Morse (65), OL Brandon Scherff (68), and OL Cooper Hodges (75)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
WR Christian Kirk (13)
