The Jacksonville Jaguars took the league by surprise in 2025. Plenty of that stemmed from the fact that they had gone 4-13 the season prior and had an unproven head coach in Liam Coen. However, the Jags didn't care what others thought of them, instead choosing to put their head down and get to work.
The approach worked as Jacksonville finished 13-4 and won the AFC South for the first time in three years. Now, Coen's squad has a target on its back as teams will be looking to prove their success last season was a fluke. Fortunately, the Jaguars are in a great position to build off their impressive 2025 and defend their division title.
The Jaguars are the least vulnerable NFL division champion in 2026
Kevin Patra of NFL media ranked all 2025 division champions from most to least vulnerable. He gave the top spot to the Jaguars, pointing out that they have questions but also the coaches to seize the AFC South for the second year in a row.
"I'll admit this is more of a vibes pick to close out the list than anything analytically based," Patra wrote. "In a year in which turnover seems inevitable, why not shoot a perceived deep three? I loved what Liam Coen brought to Duval in the first season. The offense finally found its footing down the stretch, as Trevor Lawrence spearheaded an eight-game winning streak to close the regular season. Even with questions in the backfield, I expect Coen's attack to take another step forward."
Patra continued, "If Brian Thomas Jr. shakes off his sophomore slump, Jakobi Meyers remains Steady Eddy, Parker Washington continues to develop as a slot weapon, and Brenton Strange stays healthy, this is an offense that should gobble up yards. There are questions on defense, with Ventrell Miller replacing Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd in the middle. But retaining defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile was a coup for Coen."
Later, Patra argues that all other teams in the AFC South improved in the offseason but still have glaring questions. This, in turn, could boost Jacksonville's odds of seizing the division for the second year in a row.
Circling back to his assessment of the Jaguars, Patra makes valid points. He didn't shy away from the fact that they're facing several key questions. For instance, it's hard to tell if running back Bhayshul Tuten can fill the void by Travis Etienne's exit in free agency. The same is true for Ventrell Miller, who'll be the first in line to replace Devin Lloyd.
The good news is that the team's brass appears to be high on both, with Liam Coen heaping praise on Lloyd and Miller. Having said that, the Jags have other issues aside from replacing Lloyd and Etienne.
The interior defensive line and the pass rush were big roster voids for the Jags, but they opted to pass on John Franklin-Myers in free agency and waited until Round 3 to select Albert Regis at No. 88. Similarly, they took Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee to round out the rotation behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
On the bright side, the Jaguars have a solid core of playmakers in place, so even if not all the draft picks pan out, they have enough firepower in place to defend the AFC South title. Moreover, they have what could be their biggest advantage in the division race: Liam Coen.
Liam Coen will give the Jaguars a fighting chance in the AFC South
With Liam Coen at the helm, the Jaguars should feel good about their chances of repeating as division champs. In his first season at the helm, the bar was rightly set low, but he exceeded expectations, turning Jacksonville into a playoff contender.
Coen isn't the kind of head coach who will let his team rest on its laurels. Heck, he'll find ways to motivate his players despite the fact that they're no longer underdogs. Don't be surprised if he pulls the "Nobody respects us despite being the champs" card. On top of that, the sophomore head coach will once again get the most out of his players. In 2025, Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Parker Washington, and tight end Brenton Strange posted career numbers.
On defense, having Anthony Campanile back for at least another season will help. With him calling the shots, Devin Lloyd, safety Antonio Johnson, and cornerback Montaric Brown played at an absurdly high level. If Campanile can get the rookie class going early on, his stock will be soaring in the next hiring cycle.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars are in a great position to repel the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts again.
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