Jaguars Pursue Elusive Super Bowl, Aim to Cement Status as UK's Team

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on a quest for their inaugural Super Bowl appearance, a journey that also sees them embracing a growing identity as the United Kingdom's adopted NFL team. This pursuit places them in a notable category, as they are one of four franchises, alongside the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Houston Texans, that have never competed in the Super Bowl.

The team has made multiple inroads toward championship contention, with three previous appearances in the AFC Championship game. These near misses occurred under head coach Tom Coughlin twice, including in the team's early seasons, and more recently nine seasons ago under coach Doug Marrone.

London Connection

The Jaguars are currently playing a series of games abroad. Following their recent matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they are scheduled to play the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium. These games mark their 16th and 17th appearances across the pond before returning to their home stadium, EverBank Stadium, which is undergoing construction. Their initial foray into international play in 2013 against the San Francisco 49ers at Wembley was a precursor to their current status.

Jeff Lageman, a former player and current radio color analyst for the Jaguars, observed the team's growing popularity in London. He described a pre-game experience at a hotel where a workout facility overlooked Wembley Stadium. "I remember gameday getting my workout in that facility, and I’m just looking out the window at all these people walking around, and I’m just waiting to find a Jaguars jersey," Lageman told The Post. "And now it seems like I would say 35 per cent of them are Jaguars jerseys, and people are coming from all across Europe because they’ve been to other games here before and they’ve kind of attached themselves to this football team."

Under the leadership of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars are cultivating a competitive spirit that resonates with their international fanbase. The team's consistent presence and engagement in London have fostered a strong connection, turning them into a familiar and favored presence for fans across Europe.