Why the Jaguars believe the 2026 season could finally lift them out of the Super Bowl’s forgotten dozen

The Jacksonville Jaguars still remain one of the NFL franchises waiting for their first Super Bowl appearance, let alone a Lombardi Trophy. However, something feels different heading into the 2026 offseason for the team. Jacksonville is coming off a 13–4 campaign, an AFC South title, and a stretch of football that showed real growth.

Of the 12 teams still chasing their first Super Bowl win, Jacksonville may have the clearest path forward right now. The Jaguars are younger than most franchises on that list and are building momentum at the right time. With Liam Coen guiding the roster and a strong core already in place, Jacksonville is expected to be a favorite again in the AFC South, and that alone creates an opportunity to attain what wasn't possible before.

A rare window that feels open, but not guaranteed

The sting of the recent postseason loss still lingers as Jacksonville failed to win a playoff game, yet the margin was thin. Against Buffalo, one or two plays likely decided the outcome. Had those moments gone differently, the Jaguars could have been staring at a very real Super Bowl run. That reality makes the disappointment bigger, because it felt achievable if everything went well.


As Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame noted, “Like the Panthers, the Jaguars entered the league in 1995. And, like Carolina, Jacksonville went to its conference title game in ’96, losing to the Patriots at old Foxboro Stadium.” He also pointed out that the franchise’s best regular season came in 1999, when a 14–2 team fell short again, this time to Tennessee.

Since then, Jacksonville has reached the AFC title game only once, in 2017, losing a close battle to New England. That context matters as Expansion teams have less margin for error, and windows can close quickly. The Texans are the only AFC South team with a shorter history, yet even they are accelerating fast.

Jacksonville understands that standing still is not an option, despite not being able to break through its barriers yet again. Breaking free from the Super Bowl’s dirty dozen will take immense discipline and perfect timing, as they well know. The Jaguars have proven they can get close with their recent performance, and thus, the next step is proving they can do it.


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