Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off their best season since 2017, you won't often see them being discussed as a Super Bowl contender, and it's easy to understand why.
Clubs such as the Los Angeles Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Seattle Seahawks have previously gone all the way, so they rightly have better odds of playing on Championship Sunday next season. That said, the Jags shouldn't be overlooked, even if their odds aren't nearly as high. Heck, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports is buying into the hype, going as far as saying that they'll face the Dallas Cowboys and beat them in the Super Bowl.
This begs the question, does Jacksonville really have a shot at reaching the Super Bowl? Actually, yes, and there are three reasons why it could happen.
3 reasons why the Jacksonville Jaguars can reach the Super Bowl in 2026
Trevor Lawrence, quarterback
Having a top-10 quarterback is like having a good defense; he won't guarantee you'll win the Super Bowl, but he will most definitely increase your chances. Fortunately for the Jaguars, they happen to have a pretty good signal-caller in Trevor Lawrence.
Say what you want about Lawrence failing to live up to his draft status, but he showed in 2025 that he can succeed if he's got adequate coaching and a good supporting cast. Now, No. 16 is entering his second season under Liam Coen, and nobody would bat an eye if spending another season in the same system allows him to reach new heights.
Just recently, several experts at Fansided ranked Lawrence at No. 11. If he builds off his impressive 2025, nobody will bat an eye if he moves into the top 10 and leads Jacksonville to the Super Bowl.
Liam Coen, head coach
Having the right coach is as important as having the right head coach in place. Just look at the Jags in 2021. With Urban Meyer at the helm that year, they imploded. Things got a bit better under Doug Pederson, but he eventually undid the progress the Jags made under his watch. It wasn't until Liam Coen took over in 2025 that Jacksonville became a team that commanded respect.
Coen wasted no time spearheading a culture shift, turning the Jags into a gritty and physical team that wasn't going to let itself be bullied. At the same time, he proved that he could get the most out of his players while showing genuine care for them.
Now, Coen is entering his second year with the Jags. With a better grasp of the job, he should have no trouble helping his teams navigate the challenges they'll face in the playoffs.
Continuity
Aside from linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne, the Jaguars brougth back most of their starters on both sides from last year. If that wasn't enough, several players who missed significant time in 2025 are back in the fold. Tight end Brenton Strange, two-way star Travis Hunter, and defensive end Travon Walker, among others, should have an immediate impact after being hampered by injuries last season.
Similarly, Brian Thomas Jr. is poised to have a bounce-back year, while Parker Washington is expected to have yet another banner season.
When you factor in that the Jaguars made key additions to their coaching staff, such as run game coordinator Brian Picucci and defensive backs coach Mathieu Araujo, a Super Bowl run isn't that far-fetched.
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