Since the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Josh Hines-Allen seventh overall in 2019, he's been one of the top edge rushers in the NFL. For that reason, his slow start to the regular season raised eyebrows. It's not that the two-time Pro Bowl nod was bad; he wasn't. However, he wasn't making nearly enough plays to help the Jags win.
But despite his lack of impact, Hines-Allen managed to set a new franchise record for sacks, breaking the mark Tony Brackens had set more than 20 years ago. Since then, the former Kentucky Wildcat has hit his stride, and head coach Liam Coen offered a compelling explanation for his surge in production.
. @JoshHinesAllen has 2.0 sacks in today's game. Hines-Allen's 5.5 sacks since Week 9 are tied-fifth most in the NFL. This marks the 14th multi-sack game of his career, the sixth most in the AFC since he entered the league in 2019.#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/8mbdWFQN77
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) November 30, 2025
Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen has been letting it rip
Liam Coen met with the local media after the win over the Titans and acknowledged that Josh Hines-Allen has gotten better in recent weeks, noting that he's visibly played with more freedom.
"I think so," Coen responded when asked if breaking the sack record has taken pressure off Hines-Allen's shoulders. "We haven't had the conversation, but I think you can just tell, probably for him personally, that there's a little bit more freedom now to just go let it rip and play. And man, he was rushing today."
Coen continued," I mean, there was a lot of opportunities that he was pushing the pocket and making life a little bit challenging on their tackles. So, you know, very proud of Josh being able to get to and just continue to stack blocks and get better and better each week."
After bulking up and registering "just eight sacks" last year, Hines-Allen got back to his natural weight in an effort to once again play like he did in 2023 when he set a new franchise record for sacks in a season with 17.5. However, it took him a bit to hit his stride.
Below is Coen's exchange with reporters after the win. His remarks about Hines-Allen start at the 4:37 mark.
Related: 3 winners and 1 loser from the Jags' win vs. the Titans
Josh Hines-Allen is once again making an impact for the Jaguars
Josh Hines-Allen still racked up pressures but didn't tally a full sack until Week 9, when he had 1.5 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, though, he's been on fire. Dating back to the Raiders game, the seventh-year defensive end has logged six sacks, including two against Tennessee.
What's impressive about Josh Hines-Allen's recent success is that he's managed to bring the heat despite the fact that bookend pass rusher Travon Walker has missed the past two games with a knee injury. Heck, you could even make the case that he's stepped up in his absence.
In fact, Hines-Allen's recent success makes you wonder just how dominant the pass rush will be once Walker is back. It's also important to point out that Jacksonville struggled to pressure quarterbacks early in the season. It's no coincidence that the surge in production has come at the same time Hines-Allen has shown out.
The Jaguars are now 8-4 and in a position to seize the AFC South. Having Josh Hines-Allen playing at his best will certainly help them finish the season strong.