Jacksonville Jaguars: 30 greatest players in franchise history
By John Buhler
9. player. 52. . DE. (1996-03). Tony Brackens
- 1x Pro Bowl, 1x Second-Team All-Pro (1999)
- Franchise leader in sacks (55.0), forced fumbles (27), fumble recoveries (13)
- Retired with most career tackles in franchise history for defensive lineman (302)
- Two 10+ sack seasons w/Jaguars
When it comes to getting after the quarterback, nobody did it better for longer in Jacksonville than defensive end Tony Brackens. The former second-round pick out of Texas came to the Jaguars during their first AFC Championship run in 1996.
Brackens wasted no time in his pursuit of the quarterback. As a rookie in 1996, he accumulated 7.0 quarterback sacks, forcing five fumbles in his first NFL season. He would match that sack total in second season in the league in 1997.
After a down and injury-riddled third season in 1998, Brackens’ best year as a professional came in 1999. Jacksonville went 14-2 en route to its second trip to the AFC Championship Game in its first five years of existence as a franchise.
Brackens set a career high with 12.0 quarterback sacks, as he made his lone trip to the Pro Bowl at season’s end. He would also earn a spot on the NFL’s All-Pro second team for that brilliant pass-rushing season of his.
Brackens would continue to play at a high level on the Jaguars defense through the 2001 NFL season, where he had 11.0 quarterback sacks. However, numerous leg injuries finally slowed him in his last two professional seasons. Brackens would be released by the organization during the 2004 preseason. He never played another down professionally.
In eight years with the team, Brackens retired as the franchise leader in quarterback sacks with 55.0, forced fumbles with 27 and fumble recoveries with 13. He has the most career tackles for a defensive lineman in team history at 302.
Is Brackens worthy of being inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars? Potentially, but he remains the greatest pass rusher this young franchise has ever had. He certainly had a knack at getting after the quarterback and finding the football.