Jacksonville Jaguars: 30 greatest players in franchise history

• 115 career games, starts for Jaguars
• 470 tackles, 140 assists, 24 passes defended, 14 interceptions
• Led team in interceptions in 2004 (5)
• Led team in assists in 2000 (20)

While the Jaguars are certainly brilliant in the secondary today with the likes of A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey, strong safety Donovin Darius was the Jacksonville’s highest drafted defensive back up to that point. The Jaguars used the No. 25 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft to take the defensive stalwart out of Syracuse.

Darius made his mark as a hard-hitting strong safety in middle of the Jacksonville secondary for nine seasons. He led the team in assists in 2000 and was often the best tackler in the Jaguars defensive backfield during his time with the team.

Darius did have decent ball skills, as he led the team with five interceptions in 2004, finishing with 14 picks and 24 pass breakups in his Jaguars career. However, it was his willingness to lay down the big hit that made him both a reliable player and a fan favorite down in Duval County.

While the Jaguars had great success in the early part of his career, Jacksonville only made the playoffs once after Tom Coughlin went to the New York Giants with Darius still on the team. The Jaguars would make the AFC playoffs twice under head coach Jack Del Rio, but Darius spent his last professional season with the 2007 Miami Dolphins before retiring.

Overall, Darius finished with 470 tackles and 140 assists in his Jaguars career. At the time of his departure from the club, only star running back Fred Taylor had been with the Jacksonville organization as long. Keep in mind both were draft classmates back in 1998.

Interestingly, both went to the Jaguars in the first-round. While they combined to only make one Pro Bowl between the two of them, Jacksonville certainly got the best of both Darius and Taylor’s NFL careers in Jaguars uniform.