10 biggest What Ifs in Jacksonville Jaguars history

All NFL teams have made decisions they deeply regret. The Jacksonville Jaguars have had plenty of those throughout their history. While there's not much they can do about it, it's easy to wonder what would've happened if things had played out differently, what if they had taken another path?

Some of these "What If" moments are bigger than others but all of them would have affected the Jaguars one way or another. With this in mind, here are the biggest What-Ifs in team history.

No. 10 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Morten Andersen's kick in 1996

One of the biggest moments in the history of the franchise to date happened very early on. In 1996, only the second season of the team's existence, the plucky Jaguars had turned around a rough start to the season. They entered their final regular season game having reeled off four wins in a row by less than a touchdown, earning the moniker, "Cardiac Cats," and positioning themselves to make the playoffs.

All they needed to do was handle their business against a lowly 3-12 Falcons team, and they were in. However, Atlanta had other plans, and as Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Morten Andersen lined up for a 30-yard chip shot to win the game in the final seconds, all seemed lost. Miraculously, Andersen slipped, causing the field goal to sail wide, sending the stadium crowd into delirium, and the Jaguars to their first playoff appearance.

If Andersen makes that kick, the incredible performances of the '96 playoff run never happen. There are no thrilling victories against Denver and Buffalo. No "Jagwads," no Tony Boselli dominating Bruce Smith, and no legendary run by Mark Brunell.

In subsequent seasons, perhaps the team continues to perform as they did. But without the confidence earned with those playoff performances in '96, maybe they don't. Maybe the confidence in Tom Coughlin wanes. Without that performance by Boselli against Bruce Smith, it's conceivable that he never gets into the Hall of Fame. Maybe the entire trajectory of the franchise reflects the path of one shanked kick.

No. 9 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: The 2003 Minnesota Vikings' NFL Draft

"I wanted Leftwich"

Art Model, Owner of the Baltimore Ravens

It's crazy to think an NFL team might mismanage the first round of the NFL draft so badly that they fail to execute a trade or make a pick within their allotted time. But, that's exactly what happened to the Minnesota Vikings in 2003.

According to people who were there, the Vikings were attempting to trade the eighth overall selection to the Baltimore Ravens, who were reportedly going to take Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich. Apparently, it was an open secret as Leftwich himself expected the move, stating, "I remember having talks with [Ravens general manager] Ozzie and it was pretty much set in stone."

Jacksonville had the pick directly after the Vikings, and when Minnesota failed to make a pick, the Jaguars found themselves in an unbelievable position. With the sudden availability of a highly touted quarterback on the board, Jacksonville wasted no time, rushing their card to the podium and selecting the gunslinger from West Virginia.

It seemed like luck on an intergalactic scale in the moment. But in retrospect, things could have been much better for Jacksonville if the Vikings could have just gotten their stuff together.

According to reports, head coach Jack Del Rio coveted future All-Pro Terrell Suggs. Mark Brunell was still on the team, and although the Jaguars were going through a soft rebuild, Brunell would later prove to still have some gas left in the tank.

Had Leftwich turned out to be an excellent quarterback, it would have been worth moving on from Brunell. But, as it turned out, Leftwich was mediocre at best, and the team would have been well-served to stick with Brunell and add a player who would have become the greatest pass rusher in team history.

It's difficult to project what the Jaguars' record would have been in 2003 with Mark Brunell at the helm along with Terrell Suggs wreaking havoc (he had 12 sacks as a rookie with the Ravens). But, the Jags could have been a much better team, drastically altering the course of the franchise.

But, here's the kicker: even if they did the same as they did under Leftwich, the team could have moved on from Brunell in 2004. Having just invested in Leftwich, the team wasn't interested in a quarterback in the 2004 draft. But, had they taken Suggs instead, they would have been in position to take Ben Roethlisberger instead of Reggie Williams. Oof.

No. 8 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Firing Tom Coughlin the first time

Tom Coughlin should not have been fired by Wayne Weaver at the end of the 2002 season. That's easy to claim with the benefit of hindsight. However, at the time, the fanbase was in open revolt against the franchise.

Coughlin's early success is undeniable, having gone to the playoffs four times culminating in a 14-2 season and AFC Championship game in 1999. Arguably spoiled by such early success, the Jacksonville faithful were furious with Coughlin's subsequent record of 19-29 and three straight losing seasons. Fans were boycotting games, and those that attended were booing.

Of course, all Jaguars fans know Coughlin went on to take the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories, leaving many Jaguars fans feeling like those trophies belonged in North Florida.

Well, maybe. It's hard to say what would have happened if Coughlin had been retained in Jacksonville. Perhaps he learned some lessons from his dismissal in Duval. Perhaps those lessons, left unlearned, would have prevented Coughlin from reaching the same success in Jacksonville as he found in New York.

Or, it could have gone the other way. Perhaps Coughlin sees the writing on the wall and starts the rebuild in Jacksonville sooner. Perhaps he takes Terrell Suggs instead of Byron Leftwich. It's hard to say. But, given how the franchise was in steady decline after his departure, it's hard to imagine a two-time Super Bowl champion coach couldn't have done better.

No. 7 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Wayne Weaver sells the Jaguars to a buyer loyal to North Florida

Talk about turmoil and hand-wringing. When Wayne Weaver suddenly and without warning sold the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, the city was worried.

Jacksonville residents knew the national perception of their city was not a good one with regard to the NFL. So, when Weaver sold the team to some guy named Shahid Khan, thousands of fans threw up their hands and said, "they're moving."

And the national media agreed. Boy, howdy did they agree. Destinations ranged from Los Angeles to St. Louis to London, and the rumors of the Jaguars' impending departure continued for years and years following the sale, putting the team in a difficult position of trying to prove its loyalty to the fanbase.

It didn't help that the team was awful when it was sold to Khan, and stayed awful for a long time after.

But, it seems the hearty fans of the city of Jacksonville didn't need to worry. Wayne and Delores Weaver were good owners who were loyal to the city. So, loyal in fact, that they specifically sought out a buyer who was dedicated to keeping the team in Jacksonville.

"It’s a commitment that I had to be comfortable with, that [Khan's] plan was to keep the team in Jacksonville. There is not a doubt in my mind that this team will be in Jacksonville"

Wayne Weaver

Make no mistake, Weaver had other suitors for the team, including a man named Ed Roski, who wanted to move the team to LA. But, Weaver ultimately sold to Khan for $40 million less, based on his wish to keep the team in Jacksonville.

Had the Weavers not specifically found a buyer who was determined to make the NFL work in Jacksonville, there's a high probability the team wouldn't be in Duval anymore. But, it turns out, they did, and despite anxiety-inducing moves such as taking a regular season game to London annually, so far Khan has done nothing but stay true to his word. Even if "What if" number 6 seemed to indicate otherwise...

No. 6 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Covid nixes plans to add a second regular season game in London

There are a lot of things most people wish they could forget from 2020. Among them for Jaguars fans was an announced plan to play not one, but two home games in London for the foreseeable future.

When announced, the news did not go over well with most fans, locally. But, with the singular good 2017 season under Shad Khan's guidance firmly in the rearview mirror, a malaise had fallen over much of the fanbase, and at that point, the financial decision seemed inevitable.

Then, there was a global pandemic. Suddenly, playing games internationally was off the table completely, and when the option returned, the number of Jaguars games had returned to a more palatable single game.

This year, the Jaguars will play two games in London, but the second game is an away game, not counting against the team's home slate.

Had the pandemic not hit, Jacksonville definitely would have played two games in London in 2020, and most likely beyond. Was it the slippery slope so many thought it would be? It's hard to say. Hopefully, the current arrangement of one home game followed by one away game remains the norm.

No. 5 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Myles Jack wasn't down

It was the 2017 AFC Championship Game, and the Jaguars were in the process of beating up the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. New England was battling to regain some momentum when Myles Jack made one of the most legendary plays in the history of the franchise:

First things first: Myles Jack definitely was not down. That's not really open for debate. But, what if he wasn't called down?

It's fair to note New England had the greatest quarterback in the history of the game on their side. But with a convoy of Jaguars in front of him, Myles Jack almost certainly would have scored, and even the great Tom Brady likely wouldn't have been able to come back and beat the Jags in time.

The Jaguars would have gone on to face now-head coach Doug Pederson's Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and probably would have won. Ok, well no one knows what would have happened, but it would have been a lot of fun. Maybe the team doesn't implode the following season.

No. 4 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Drafting Leonard Fournette

2017 stands out in Jaguar fans' memories for more reasons than just "Myles Jack Wasn't Down." Fans can also vividly recall the 2017 draft when the Jags used the No. 4 overall draft pick on Leonard Fournette.

It's still unclear who, inside the building, wanted to use a top five pick on a running back. It could have been Tom Coughlin, who upon his return to the franchise, was determined to instill a sense of toughness and competitiveness to the franchise. Coughlin had a history of loving big bruising backs, and Fournette seemed to fit the bill.

With the subsequent season's success, it was easy to see the reasoning behind the pick. The team extended Blake Bortles' contract, and they charged headlong into 2018, expecting to become a Super Bowl contender.

However, after 2017, the team disintegrated quickly. Fournette was ultimately waived after only three seasons, and the team was in shambles.

Looking back, it's painful to realize the team passed on Patrick Mahomes in favor of Leonard Fournette in the draft. At the time, they were still committed to Blake Bortles. But, even then, numerous fans knew Bortles didn't have the stuff to be an elite quarterback.

Had the Jaguars taken Mahomes instead of Fournette, they may have been just as good in 2017. But, even if they weren't, they likely would have been in incalculably better shape in 2018 through 2022.

No. 3 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Frank Gore first down

In 2020, the Jaguars and the Jets were battling it out for which team was the worst in the league. Both teams were miserable with the Jaguars trailing the Jets throughout nearly the entire season in the race for the number one overall draft pick on the strength of an opening day win against the Colts led by Gardner Minshew. It was widely known by all football observers that waiting at the end of this dark season was a savior for one of these weary fanbases.

But, if there was any doubt about the Jets tanking for the draft, those thoughts were removed when Jets running back Frank Gore got a first down near the end of the Jets' game against the Rams in Week 15:

The Jaguars, who had held onto the number two draft position throughout the season to that point, were elevated to number one. As if to remove any doubt, the Jets followed this game up with a win against the Browns a week later. Hey, they definitely weren't tanking.

No. 2 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: Urban Meyer at the bar

Urban Meyer's tenure in Jacksonville is a stain on the memory of the Jaguars' legacy. The disastrous catastrophe that was his head coaching career for the Jaguars cannot be overstated.

From being completely unprepared and out of his depth to hiring buddies for some staff positions and accused racists for others, Meyer seemed to go out of his way to do everything wrong.

He mistreated players. He was woefully uninformed. He was often not at work. He didn't travel with the team. It was a very bad situation.

All this while having inherited a "generational" player in Trevor Lawrence. How could he be that bad? It's almost as though he didn't really care. It's almost as if he cared more about something else:

Thank goodness Jacob Texas, whoever that is, recorded Urban Meyer "dancing" with a girl half his age in Cincinatti instead of traveling home with his professional football team. What if he hadn't?

There were some rumblings of weird stuff happening with the team, but it wasn't until this video surfaced that the wheels really came off for Urban Meyer. While it took an assault accusation from Josh Lambo to finish him off, it was the video that opened the eyes of many onlookers. Had the video never come to light, many of the rumors and innuendo about Urban Meyer may have been dismissed, as they usually were.

It's no exaggeration to say that without the video, the Jaguars could have realistically been stuck with Meyer for another season, eliminating the wondrous season that was 2022, and perhaps poisoning the career of Trevor Lawrence.

No. 1 biggest "What If" in Jaguars history: The Jags win the Super Bowl in 2023

The above list entails a lot of suffering for Jaguars fans. It's been a long road.

But, maybe it's been necessary.

Every event leads to another. Every domino that falls causes another domino to fall, and without the events of the Jaguars' past, it's possible they wouldn't be where they are today. Perhaps there is no other road that could have led them to 2023.

If the Jags hadn't endured such heartache after early success under Coughlin, perhaps the fanbase would just take winning for granted and wouldn't appreciate how hard it is to sustain success in the NFL.

If the Jags hadn't hired Urban Meyer, then maybe whoever else they got would have been adequate enough to not get fired, thus keeping his job through last year, and eliminating the possibility of having Doug Pederson as head coach.

If Shad Khan had caved to pressure to fire Trent Baalke, maybe they don't have two stellar drafts.

As bad as the past has been, the Jaguars are poised to have a great season in 2023. Every football fan in the city can feel it. There are a ton of "what-ifs" that could have gone this way or that. But, "if" the Jaguars are able to put together a dominant season in 2023 following the magic that was 2022, will it have all been worth it?

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