You can bring up several reasons the Jacksonville Jaguars went from finishing 4-13 in 2024 to winning 13 games and seizing the AFC South last year. The biggest one is probably the arrival of head coach Liam Coen, who managed to get the most out of an underachieving roster and shift the locker room culture. It also helped that Trevor Lawrence put it all together and played like a top-10 quarterback to end the season. That said, the defense also played a huge role, and Anthony Campanile's work shouldn't be overlooked.
In his first season as the defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile was able to tighten up his unit and turn it into one of the best in the whole NFL. Not surprisingly, he became a hot commodity among teams in need of a head coach. However, Camp returned to Duval and is looking to build off of his success in 2025.
The Jaguars defense gets the recognition it deserves in an NFL ranking
Gary Davenport ranked the top 10 defenses in the NFL after the Myles Garrett trade. He included the Jaguars at No. 9, arguing that they're not praised nearly enough despite the fact that they excelled at stopping the run last year.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars are rarely mentioned among the league's best defenses, but that unit played a major role in their 13 wins and AFC South title in 2025," Davenport wrote. "In 2025, the Jags ranked just outside the top 10 in total defense, eighth in the NFL in points allowed and fielded the best run defense in the league at just 85.6 yards per game."
Later, Davenport mentions that losing Devin Lloyd in free agency hurts, but Jacksonville has more than enough talent at linebacker to overcome his departure.
"Losing linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency was a blow, but the Jaguars still have a steady, veteran presence at inside linebacker in Foyesade Oluokun, who led the league in tackles in 2021 and 2022," Davenport said.
Davenport goes on to say that having Travis Hunter play cornerback full-time will round out a secondary that struggled at times in 2025 but is stacked with talent.
But as dominant as the Jacksonville defense is, it doesn't come close to the top units in the NFL. The Denver Broncos lost to the Jaguars last year, but their defense is way better, which is why they landed at No. 3. The Los Angeles Rams finished second with All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Trent McDuffie, defensive tackle Braden Fiske and defensive end Byron Young in the mix. If Aaron Donald comes back from retirement, they'll be hard to beat.
For the time being, the top spot in the defensive ranking went to the Houston Texans. With game-changers such as Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, safety Jalen Pitre, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., they're stacked with talent at all three levels.
The Jaguars still are missing a few pieces on defense
There's no doubt that the Jaguars have playmakers at all three levels. They shouldn't miss a beat after losing Devin Lloyd in free agency because Ventrell Miller is ready to step into his place. Similarly, the safety position could turn out to be a strength, with Antonio Johnson coming off a banner season and sophomore Caleb Ransaw poised to make noise.
On the other hand, having Travis Hunter line up opposite Montaric Brown in the boundaries will be huge. With Jarrian Jones and Jourdan Lewis also in the mix, they're set at cornerback. The only concern comes on the defensive line. Jacksonville lacked a difference-maker who could get to the quarterback on the interior. Maybe Ruke Orhorhoro will change that, but until further notice, defensive tackle remains a question mark.
The same is true for the No. 3 pass-rusher spot. The Jags have one of the best duos in the league in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, but the rotation behind them leaves a bit to be desired. The team will need sophomore Danny Striggow or one of the rookies — Zach Durfee or Wesley Williams — to make an impact next season.
Despite the question marks, the Jaguars still have plenty of talent on defense to defend their AFC South title, but if they manage to answer them, they'll be a legitimate contender next season.
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