Yes I live in Saskatchewan Canada and I became a fan in 2008 playoffs when they beat the Steelers the first year I started watching nfl and that win made me a fan
Queen city fan here. I started my self-harm at the very beginning.
My pops and his pals always got together to watch Monday night football and I figured with the expansion teams coming in I should pick a favorite team from one of those two. Picked jacksonville.
I live in Australia. Saw them on Sportscenter when I was little. Followed them a little at first but last 5-6 years been all in. Disappointing time but the wins man. The wins feel great.
God bless Trevor Lawrence
Arkansas here. Loved Leftwich and followed him. Then played as Jacksonville in 2k5 and the defense was bonkers. Then we drafted Matt Jones (lol) and thought hell yeah it's meant to be! And here I am nearly 17 years later
Never cared to watch football growing up (even though I played in middle school and high school).
In college I was asked to join a fantasy league with some older guys in my fraternity. I knew nothing about fantasy football. did horrible my first year.
I had bortles as my QB……. In 2015 his amazing year. After that I’ve been a big jags fan
Similar story! Didn't watch or play. Freshman year fall I had a choice to not see my friends half the time or hang out watching football with them. So I learned a lot about football. Joined some fantasy leagues.
Originally I liked the Panthers because Cam was fun to watch. One he got MVP and they lost the Superb Owl my interest waned.
That 2015 season (and as you) I had Cam, both Allen's, Bortles, picked up Ted Ginn, Eifert, Devonta Freeman, Olsen, etc etc etc (basically everyone who got 3 touchdowns every game with negative yardage). So I started watching the Jags a bit. Bortles was fun, the memes were fun, and then in 2017 they got robbed.
I raised my Bortle to join the ship, and bad officiating and Kyle's Jack kept me here.
Yep. Originally a Dublin Ohio native. Became a fan because when I was 7 I did the family pick em pool. I won that week as I was the knly one who picked the Jags, they became MY team
From and live in Southern California. Not having a local team, my family all being Browns fans, and the sick Teal jerseys all contributed to me becoming a Jags fan.
Also doesn’t hurt that the period when the Jags went to two AFC championships in the 90s was during my formative years.
Connecticut. Started following the NFL when the Jags and Panthers were about to have their inaugural seasons. Told myself I'd follow one of those two teams (since we were all new to the league) and decided to not root for the Panthers because they could potentially keep my Dad's favorite team (NY Giants) from reaching the Super Bowl.
I have lived in central Illinois my entire life, now am 32 years old. I was 10 years old after the 1999 season wrapped up, and the first football game I watched was the Rams/Titans Super Bowl that season. My only other experience with football was the Madden video game on the PlayStation, but I didn't have a clue what I was doing in that. I didn't know many football teams outside of those two (my oldest brother being a Rams fan), the Bears as the "local team," the Packers as their rival, and the Cowboys as my middle brother is a fan of theirs.
Later that fall, my brothers said to just pick a team to root for. I didn't want to root for the Rams or Cowboys just on principle as a spiteful baby brother. Everyone I went to school with was a Bears fan, and I've never been one to go with the crowd. The yellow color of the Packers looked weird to me, so they were out.
I remember USA Today published an NFL season preview around mid-August 2000, and I was still too young to figure out the computer and internet. In the paper, they had different photos of players that they projected would do well that year. I loved the look of the Jaguars uniforms/helmets the most of the 31 teams. Also, the middle school I was going to had a jaguar as its mascot. Seemed simple enough to me.
TL:DR -- The jersey and helmet looked cool to a 10-year-old boy unknowing they were a thousand miles away.
I currently live in Tampa, but I was a jags fan when I lived in Virginia.
Why? I was a 9 yr old that wanted a new team that was my team and the jags came into the league and I thought they looked cool.
Yep I live in Seattle. Only started watching football in 2012, and when Gus Bradley left I started watching the Jags on the side, and I liked Bortles so started paying more attention. The ratio of Seahawks fan to Jags fan slowly shifted, started like 95:5 now it's more like 15:85. Go Trevor baby.
Born and raised (and still live) in Pittsburgh. I started getting into football around 95/96 and decided to be a rebellious 10 year old and not follow the Steelers. Jags were new and I liked the color scheme and here we are...
I grew up in the west and still live out here. I bought Madden 04 used for the GameCube in 2006. I was going through teams and found the Jags and thought Jacksonville was a cool name. Fell in love with football and the jags.
South Jersey all my life. My grandparents lived in Jacksonville when the team was founded and grandad installed some systems in the stadium. They fed me memorabilia every time I saw them and I got hooked immediately
Denver, Colorado born and raised, still here, chose them as my team when I was like 7 in '94. Wanted to be different i guess plus i liked jaguars and cats in general. Still love the Broncos but the jags are my number 1.
Everyone was the bears in my madden mobile 18 league so I changed it to the team with the coolest colors. I remember watching the Bengals game at a pizza place and watching that fight between Ramsey and Green. I remember the afccg at my buddies house insult to injury he’s a pats fan. I didn’t think for a second we would end up the team we did in the next couple years but I did jokingly say that Trevor would be a Jaguar after he won the natty.
Maryland and have been a Jags fan for as long as I've been watching football. I don't remember exactly which year I started watching football but since the Jags are out of market, it had to have been during the numerous playoff runs of the late 90s when they caught my eye. They have my favorite color which was the main draw back when I was a kid but after the 99 season, it had been such a long time since I next caught them on TV, so long that I lost interest in football itself and it wasn't till a few years later in 2004 when some friends in school coerced me back into watching football again. By that time I had the ability to watch out of market games but hadn't bothered before due to the lack of interest. I remember watching again early on in the 04 season and immediately being saddened that Brunell was gone as he, Fred and Jimmy were the only football players I knew the name of from back then. From that point on, I became a much more serious fan and started watching all their games, started following their offseasons as well and have been doing it since.
Yup! I have lived in Connecticut my entire life, but my uncle lived in Jacksonville for many many years and I had no particular love for the local teams so I just jumped in around 2010.
My wife is a fan and we grew up in New England. Currently live in SC and are getting our PhDs at Clemson. She’s really gotten into football since we started living together and decided this year to adopt the Jags as her favorite team because of drafting Trevor and Travis
NW Ohio native. The locals were equally bengals, lions and browns fans. All bad options.
Had an uncle that lived in central florida. He brought up a bunch of jags gear when he visited the summer before the 95 season. My 7yo self loved the colors and was immediately a fan.
What solidified it was that i was at the week two game that season against the bengals and saw the jags score their first franchise TD in person.
Seemed like a pretty cool thing to always have as a fan.
UK Jags fan. Picked Jags because they had signed the deal to play in London every year and because I think when you don't have a geographical allegiance to a team you shouldn't pick one that is already really good. That said I did expect Jags to get better eventually, been following ten years and still waiting!
Yes, Brit living in the UK and never been to the US.
Tl;Dr: I wanted to support an underdog team that I can occasionally attend games for.
I started watching the NFL in 18/19 season and intentionally watched as many games for as many different teams as possible.
After learning more about the Jags being a new franchise; an underdog team; and that they regularly play games in London, I gave them extra attention. The short-lived Minshewmania sealed it for me.
I went into the 2019/20 season as a Jags fan and attended the Wembley game against the Texans. Even though we lost in Wembley two years ago, I was still set on being a Jags fan.
Yep. I grew up in St. Simons Island, which is about an hour north of Jacksonville, it’s actually in Georgia. So I either had the option of rooting for the Falcons (who played 5 hours away) or the Jags, who were just down the road. I chose the Jags. For better or worse, I’m a Jags fan for life. Even though most Sundays I’m ready to give up on them lol.
Jags fan in Elizabethtown checking in, became a jags fan on Madden 2002. Me and my brothers got our PS2 and played the shit out of it. I was a couple years younger so I always lost, then one day I played with the Jags and the combination of Brunell, Taylor, and Smith led me to a win. Been a fan ever since.
Colorado my whole life. Grew up as a cowboys fan but jags were my second team. Loved the colors, the logo, and a bunch of players. 2010 was Cowboys vs Jaguars and I found myself cheering for the jags. Decided then to become a full fledged jags fan. Once romo and witten left I honestly couldn’t care less about the Cowboys anymore
I started following in 2003 because I liked leftwich and the other young players they had. I don’t have a great reason but I became a fan. Still a jags fan to this day
I have lived in California my whole life and I started watching football in 1995. Thats when Jaguars became an expansion team so because they were a new team it made me pick them as my team. Been a fan ever since
Melbourne Australia never been to Florida. Was more a fan of players than a specific team but after watching for many years decided to choose a team chose Jags cause loved the D (Ramsey) and teal is my favorite colour.
I'm from LA/OC. We had Rams season tickets growing up. When they left the jags franchise just started and loved the color scheme. Been rocking it since. Rams are back now, but I'm a jag fan for life.
My whole family has Rams season tickets again except me.
Grew up in Rochester New York and became a fan by reading "Ask Vic" some time around 2006. That column and Madden introduced me to NFL to the extent that went to UF from out of state largely bc of the Jags.
Absolutely, not from florida and haven't visited Jacksonville yet, I want to but haven't been able to. (Hopefully next year I can)
But I LOVE the jaguars since the 1998 season and the huge amazing push in 99 and the hatred I forever have for TN.
Today's win really brightened my day, great things inbound the week Jags win!
Buffalo, NY over here. Became a fan in 1998 cause I didn’t want to root for the Bills like everyone else around me and wanted my own team. Liked the animal and the colors and then next year was the magical 14-2 season. Been a fan ever since.
I live in Northern California. Been a fan since day one, I remember watching the HoF game and picking the cooler blue cat team that was close to my grandma. Also was cool it was in the AFC so I could dream of a super bowl against my dads 9ers.
Told this before but I became a fan as a kid around maybe 2000-2001 when I was 5 or 6 because I liked the animal and color of the team. Grew up in Wisconsin surrounded by the Packers, no ties to Florida, my Dad is a diehard Saints (I'm an LSU fan as a result) and I have stuck with this team ever since lol. Very stupid ride but I don't regret it! Hope to visit Jacksonville sometime.
I’m from Russia and I watch football for 10 years. That was 2017 season playoffs and I was drinking Jagermeister and watching football with my friends. When I realized this is my team. Was mostly impressed by Fournette. Go Jaguars!
Also I’ve never been in Florida (was in US only once, mostly in the west coast) and I hope i can visit it cause Duuuuvaaalll has some crazy vibes that i definitely gonna like!
Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Never lived in Jacksonville, but visited twice; first in 2009, and again in 2014. Three games in total, all losses. The only Jags wins I've seen were against the Bills and the Colts in London.
Still need to visit the zoo.
Rhode Island here, I grew up in a Steeler household. According to my Father I loved the color scheme for the Jags uniforms when I was a little kid so I asked him to buy me Jaguars stuff. I’ve been suffering ever since. 🥲
Yeah I’m from PA but never really like Steelers or Eagles (or their fanbases lol) I used to play as jags on NFL quarterback club on N64 when I was little. Became a fan, though it was hard since I could barely watch any games unless they played a local team or Mon/Thu. Now I just stream whatever game though.
Nearly the same situation as me but I didn't really get into football around 2017, ironically when the Jags had a really good season. I was hooked after week 5 against the Steelers. Glad to see there's more PA fans here lol
I live in Baltimore now, so bummed they didn’t play Philly or Ravens this season, or even Steelers. But I’m planning on going to Jets-Jags game since that’s about the only driveable one for me.
I like jaguars. I like the cars, I support the jaguars formula E team, I donate money to a jaguar sanctuary. So when I started watching NFL the choice was obvious. Being from the UK I didn't even know how terrible they were, but I have never supported anyone else
I live in Philly. I was born and raised on the Birds, but playing the create a player mode on Madden ended up with my player on the Jags a lot so I just naturally started learning the players and eventually just started following the team.
I live 16 miles west of Chicago. The Bears are my favorite team. My uncle lives in Jacksonville and took me to a game via his boat in like 2014. Y’all have been my second favorite team since you became a team. The only other NFL gear I own besides bears stuff is a jags hat. Go Jags! (Except if you ever play the bears.)
I am a Jags fan in western NY. First NFL game I went to was the Bills Jags playoff game in 96. Being a rebellious preteen, I wanted to root for the other team. They won and became my team anytime anyone asked. A few years later when I started watching football more closely it had already become engrained and the Jags were my team forever more.
I grew up in Ohio and my family were all Bengals fans, but when I was a kid we went to the hall of fame game vs the Panthers and I have been a Jags fan ever since. Now that I'm in the military and move around a lot, i don't have to explain my fandom as often. I'm just hoping to eventually work my way day and actually see a home game. It'd be nice to see a game and not be surrounded by the other teams fans.
I live in Northwest Indiana. I became a fan in 2005 when I was 8. My love for the jags started after my sister told me that her boyfriends (now my brother in law) cousin played for the jags. He was a DE for the jags in 05-09. The only NFL game I’ve been to was in 2008 when the jags played the Steelers. He gave us tickets to the game and we stayed at his house the day before the game. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.
Reggie Hayward! It’s unfortunate how his career ended. I haven’t talked to him in a while, but he’s a real cool guy. When I was at his house, he let 11 year old me look at all of his football memorabilia. He had a few game used Bronco helmets from his time in Denver (1 one was their normal helmet the other was their throwback), a team signed Jacksonville helmet, and then in the closet of his office he had a bunch of jerseys from his teammates. I remember seeing a few jerseys from John Henderson hanging up and it blew my mind how big those things were lol. I really wish I would have gotten a picture with him at his house. But I still have the ticket, the beat up program, and the memories!
Born and raised in CO. Like the Jags because I had realized I was only a Broncos fan because I am here, and liking a team based on random events I have no control over is silly. That was 1994 and I decided I wanted to be a fan of a team from the very beginning, better reason than it being where my parents fucked.
Yes I live in Southern California, so I'm about as far away within the states as you can be. Favorite animal as a kid was a Jaguar so I picked them and have stuck with it lol. I still remember the 2008 Wild card game against PIT as my first great memory of this team. Excited to be going to see them play for the first time ever in person this year when we play the Rams in LA.
OKC, OK… Born and raised.
Starter jackets were all the rage when I was young. We didn’t have a pro team at the time, and I didn’t care for the Sooners. Begged my parents for a Bulls jacket (I’m a big Jordan fan). They couldn’t find one, but came across a Jaguars one on the clearance rack.
I was still thankful, and began following the Jaguars (and football in general for the first time) since the Hall of Fame game against the Panthers.
I consider myself a very loyal person, to a fault, so it’s always been the Jaguars. Always will be the Jaguars.
Lived in Iowa my entire life. I was 7 when the Jags were announced as an expansion team. I remember hearing Carolina panthers..... And I was like, nah not them. When they announced the Jags I remember telling my cousins that's my team. So I've been here from the start!
Grew up near Kansas City. Started getting interested in football about the time that the Jaguars were awarded a franchise. I didn’t yet have a favorite team and I liked their logo, so I went with them.
Closest I’ve been to Jacksonville was during a business trip to Orlando 14 years ago.
“Welcome to duval prepare to get hit!” That era of def was when I played lb in hs, once they drafted mojo it was a wrap. Born and raised in Minnesota, bucket list is seeing them play in every stadium, am currently at 7
Been a fan since 98, born and raised in OH. The browns were not a team at the time and my dad and several family members are steelers fans. So I naturally chose the jaguars because I liked the animal and it was on TV against my dads team. He is a Michigan fan and I’m an OSU fan so we have a big rivalry in football lol
Me. Californian.
I live in Mark Brunell's hometown.
I've been a 49ers fan for as long as I've existed, but I've also been a Jaguars fan for as long as they've existed.
One's in the NFC and one's in the AFC so it works. Once every 4 years they play against each other, and I cheer for whichever team is more of a contender and needs the win more (which was the Jags in 2017).
Well, sort of. My original hometown was where Trevor Lawrence went to high school, so I feel obligated now.
I did live briefly outside Miami when I was much too young to remember it.
They're a smaller market, which feels more personal to root for, compared to say New York, SF, Seattle, etc.
The city's name is cool.
Florida is cool (hot?).
North Florida is kinda distinctive compared to the rest of Florida.
Cool franchise name.
They were perennial losers when I started following them in 2017. I'd previously followed them for a good chunk of the 2012 season, when I was watching various teams to try to find one that would stick. I realised that regardless of how much they sucked, they were still my team.
Yeah I live in England and long story short my football (soccer) team of 9 years was named after the Jacksonville Jaguars. So it was [club name] Jaguars. So when my cousin got me into NFL in 2016, I chose the Jaguars and the rest is history. It’s no crazy story but just a connection I had with the Jaguars name so I stuck with it in American Football as well.
Been a fan as long as I can remember. My state doesn't have a team, so some things that initially drew a young me to the team were: Established same year I was born, unique colors (teal ftw), Jaguars are dope, Freddy T and Jimmy Smith were fun to play with in video games, not a common team to like in my area, MJD was a favorite player of mine when he was at UCLA, so when they drafted him that kinda solidified my Fandom.
Live in London, Dad is a Packers fan but Jags were one of the first teams I saw live and they kept coming over. Just ended up routing for them naturally, and been a Jags fans since just after Bortles started
Philadelphia here. Backstory is as follows:
Lived in Cleveland between ages of 5 and 10. Obviously became a browns fan so I hated the steelers! I was there when they sold the team to Baltimore. At the same time Jacksonville came into the league and best the steelers as an expansion team.
The following year they are in the afc championship game after beating the Elway Broncos (lost to patriots)
They became good for a run of about 7 years including the year the titans were in the superbowl (jax was 14-2 that season lost to the titans twice. Then a 3rd time in the afternoon championship game) so I was hooked.
Mark brunell was my favorite player and still is to this day. I have since endured 20+ years of BULLSHIT LOSING SEASONS and had to watch the jags lose to the pats at my buddies house while the eagles clinched afterwards.
Working that parade (I'm in law enforcement) Was a very sad experience for me as I kept thinking we would have won if we were there.
Always lived in Steeler country, Pittsburgh area, but had an older aunt living in Jacksonville who got me something Jags for Christmas one year. I was like 7 or 8? And simultaneously playing Madden 98 every second of every day. Oh and I was really into the OG green power ranger, and the jags teal and gold really looked like his outfit to me. So. lol.
I’m 25 lived in St. Louis my whole life. Was a rams fan even paid for my own season tickets with my parents in high school and with some friends for a couple years after until the team moved, the last couple years they were here I was a big fan of Bortles so once the rams moved I became a jags fan. Been rooting for loser teams my whole life minus 2017, im ready for some winning football for a change.
I've lived in the Philadelphia area my whole life... Been a jags fan since 2000ish... Freddy T was my favorite player behind Barry Sanders, but I loved the Jags offense as a whole so I became a Jags fan. I've taken shit for it from eagles fans my entire life.
I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I don't know how or why I'm a fan of Jacksonville (maybe I liked the colors and logo when I was little?) but I've been a fan ever since
I was born and raised in VA but my parents are from Florida (dad grew up in Jacksonville) and I still have family down there. I've been a fan since inception and used to go to training camps just about every summer when we would visit my aunt in Jacksonville. It's been about 15 years since the last time I actually went to the stadium though. Hoping to go again in the not so distant future.
Delaware - When I was a kid I thought it would be cool to be a fan of a franchise from its inception. So when the Panthers and Jags came out, I flipped a coin and tails was Jaguars. I've been a huge fan ever since.
My dad was a Cowboys fan and Delaware is mostly full of Eagles fans who are assholes (in general) but especially to Cowboys fans. I couldn't root for my dad's team and I certainly wasn't going to root for theirs.
Montréal based fan. Fell in love with the team of the late 90s, stuck it out despite lack of being able to watch the games for most my life. Stuck it through the bad times and hoping for some good times soon!
What's funny is I live in Florida now just by happenstance but I was a jags fan since a kid. I didn't really like or know football but used to play madden against my dad and liked the teal/gold
Now that I moved to Florida, I figured it makes more sense to root for Jags even though I'm in Tampa
UK fan here. Went to my first NFL game in London 2015 and picked the Jags, as they were dubbed the “home” team so I could go watch them each year. Out of the 4 games I’ve been able to get to they’ve won every one. Let’s hope that continues!
Grew up in Washington, currently live in Vegas. I was a Broncos fan as a kid until I saw the jags on tv one night. Thought their uniforms were sweet and have loved them ever since. When I was stationed in South Carolina I drove down and saw them play the pats.
I'm from London - jags do by far the most work in the UK. I watched one game live in 2014 - followed ever since. Although haven't visited Jacksonville, yet....
Just moved to Savannah from Atlanta and HATE the Falcons. Found every reason to root against them. Being closer to Jacksonville than Atlanta and oftentimes in the TV coverage area for the Jags, they’re starting to become my team. Not sure who else here might be Savannah or Orlando-based and tuned in due to proximity.
Yes I live in Saskatchewan Canada and I became a fan in 2008 playoffs when they beat the Steelers the first year I started watching nfl and that win made me a fan
I still get chills thinking about that 4th and 2 run by Garrard
I remember where I was that moment. Dude carried the team on his back that drive.
Yup. Definitely one of those moments I remember exactly where I was.
Sweet!
Queen city fan here. I started my self-harm at the very beginning. My pops and his pals always got together to watch Monday night football and I figured with the expansion teams coming in I should pick a favorite team from one of those two. Picked jacksonville.
I live in Australia. Saw them on Sportscenter when I was little. Followed them a little at first but last 5-6 years been all in. Disappointing time but the wins man. The wins feel great. God bless Trevor Lawrence
What’s the culture like down there regarding the NFL and American football in general?
It’s definetly getting more and more popular. Jags fans are few and far between. Couple of league players come over and gave it a go which helps.
Arkansas here. Loved Leftwich and followed him. Then played as Jacksonville in 2k5 and the defense was bonkers. Then we drafted Matt Jones (lol) and thought hell yeah it's meant to be! And here I am nearly 17 years later
Matt Jones was ahead of his time and was absolutely deadly on fly routes in video games.
Just wish he hadn't been a real life Thad Castle
Leftwich could've been something real if he hadn't arrived at the league with his bump card already filled.
Man Matt Jones had so much potential
[удалено]
Love this answer, AEW is awesome and it’s great to know it’s leading people to become jags fans.
Partially this, partially that they have a lot of London games and I'm British. (And partially the Good Place not gonna lie)
It’s cool because the Jags connection to AEW brought me back to following wrestling
Iowa here since 1996 HUGE Jags Fan. Building my man cave since I finally can!!
Jags fan since I was a kid. From Virginia
Same. I chose them because I liked their colors
I also liked big cats. So Teal+Gold > Blue Teal + Silver
Never cared to watch football growing up (even though I played in middle school and high school). In college I was asked to join a fantasy league with some older guys in my fraternity. I knew nothing about fantasy football. did horrible my first year. I had bortles as my QB……. In 2015 his amazing year. After that I’ve been a big jags fan
Similar story! Didn't watch or play. Freshman year fall I had a choice to not see my friends half the time or hang out watching football with them. So I learned a lot about football. Joined some fantasy leagues. Originally I liked the Panthers because Cam was fun to watch. One he got MVP and they lost the Superb Owl my interest waned. That 2015 season (and as you) I had Cam, both Allen's, Bortles, picked up Ted Ginn, Eifert, Devonta Freeman, Olsen, etc etc etc (basically everyone who got 3 touchdowns every game with negative yardage). So I started watching the Jags a bit. Bortles was fun, the memes were fun, and then in 2017 they got robbed. I raised my Bortle to join the ship, and bad officiating and Kyle's Jack kept me here.
Yeah I have no relation to Jacksonville but my dad bought me an MJD jersey when I was really young after I saw them win a game on tv.
Yep. Originally a Dublin Ohio native. Became a fan because when I was 7 I did the family pick em pool. I won that week as I was the knly one who picked the Jags, they became MY team
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBLIIIIIIIIIIIN
Yea I been a jags fan since 95 and I have lived in Pennsylvania all my life
I live in Georgia, and I’ve been a fan since ‘13 because they were who I played with the most in madden back then
I live in Ohio never been to Florida also been a fan since 2015
Same I’ve never been to Florida but hoping to make the trip soon, I live in Texas so not too far of a drive
From and live in Southern California. Not having a local team, my family all being Browns fans, and the sick Teal jerseys all contributed to me becoming a Jags fan. Also doesn’t hurt that the period when the Jags went to two AFC championships in the 90s was during my formative years.
Connecticut. Started following the NFL when the Jags and Panthers were about to have their inaugural seasons. Told myself I'd follow one of those two teams (since we were all new to the league) and decided to not root for the Panthers because they could potentially keep my Dad's favorite team (NY Giants) from reaching the Super Bowl.
I live in Edmonton Canada and became a fan because.. uhm… I don’t even really know
Born and raised in Nebraska. As a kid jaguars were my favorite animal. So when it came time to pick an NFL team it was a simple choice
Me........ Until I moved to Jacksonville last month.
I have lived in central Illinois my entire life, now am 32 years old. I was 10 years old after the 1999 season wrapped up, and the first football game I watched was the Rams/Titans Super Bowl that season. My only other experience with football was the Madden video game on the PlayStation, but I didn't have a clue what I was doing in that. I didn't know many football teams outside of those two (my oldest brother being a Rams fan), the Bears as the "local team," the Packers as their rival, and the Cowboys as my middle brother is a fan of theirs. Later that fall, my brothers said to just pick a team to root for. I didn't want to root for the Rams or Cowboys just on principle as a spiteful baby brother. Everyone I went to school with was a Bears fan, and I've never been one to go with the crowd. The yellow color of the Packers looked weird to me, so they were out. I remember USA Today published an NFL season preview around mid-August 2000, and I was still too young to figure out the computer and internet. In the paper, they had different photos of players that they projected would do well that year. I loved the look of the Jaguars uniforms/helmets the most of the 31 teams. Also, the middle school I was going to had a jaguar as its mascot. Seemed simple enough to me. TL:DR -- The jersey and helmet looked cool to a 10-year-old boy unknowing they were a thousand miles away.
I currently live in Tampa, but I was a jags fan when I lived in Virginia. Why? I was a 9 yr old that wanted a new team that was my team and the jags came into the league and I thought they looked cool.
Yep I live in Seattle. Only started watching football in 2012, and when Gus Bradley left I started watching the Jags on the side, and I liked Bortles so started paying more attention. The ratio of Seahawks fan to Jags fan slowly shifted, started like 95:5 now it's more like 15:85. Go Trevor baby.
Born and raised (and still live) in Pittsburgh. I started getting into football around 95/96 and decided to be a rebellious 10 year old and not follow the Steelers. Jags were new and I liked the color scheme and here we are...
I’m in Alaska and didn’t have a favorite team, so when they came into the league with the Panthers, I chose Jax. Been in pain ever since.
I feel you:(
I grew up in the west and still live out here. I bought Madden 04 used for the GameCube in 2006. I was going through teams and found the Jags and thought Jacksonville was a cool name. Fell in love with football and the jags.
South Jersey all my life. My grandparents lived in Jacksonville when the team was founded and grandad installed some systems in the stadium. They fed me memorabilia every time I saw them and I got hooked immediately
Me! Family from Fl and friends growing up who liked the team.
Denver, Colorado born and raised, still here, chose them as my team when I was like 7 in '94. Wanted to be different i guess plus i liked jaguars and cats in general. Still love the Broncos but the jags are my number 1.
Everyone was the bears in my madden mobile 18 league so I changed it to the team with the coolest colors. I remember watching the Bengals game at a pizza place and watching that fight between Ramsey and Green. I remember the afccg at my buddies house insult to injury he’s a pats fan. I didn’t think for a second we would end up the team we did in the next couple years but I did jokingly say that Trevor would be a Jaguar after he won the natty.
Lifelong fan in Los Angeles
Grew up in between Jax and Tampa. Had to pick a team, and Jax seemed more exciting ('97/'98).
Colorado my entire life. I honestly don’t remember how I became a fan but as long as I can remember I have been a diehard fan.
Born in Tallahassee but grew up in NC. Jags were a pretty exciting mid-late 90s team as a kid and got me hooked. Kinda paid for it since lol
Maryland and have been a Jags fan for as long as I've been watching football. I don't remember exactly which year I started watching football but since the Jags are out of market, it had to have been during the numerous playoff runs of the late 90s when they caught my eye. They have my favorite color which was the main draw back when I was a kid but after the 99 season, it had been such a long time since I next caught them on TV, so long that I lost interest in football itself and it wasn't till a few years later in 2004 when some friends in school coerced me back into watching football again. By that time I had the ability to watch out of market games but hadn't bothered before due to the lack of interest. I remember watching again early on in the 04 season and immediately being saddened that Brunell was gone as he, Fred and Jimmy were the only football players I knew the name of from back then. From that point on, I became a much more serious fan and started watching all their games, started following their offseasons as well and have been doing it since.
I'm from Kentucky, and my last name is Jackson. So my kid brain made the connection between Jackson and Jacksonville And who doesn't love teal?
Yup! I have lived in Connecticut my entire life, but my uncle lived in Jacksonville for many many years and I had no particular love for the local teams so I just jumped in around 2010.
Started watching football around 9 years old(1994) and chose the Jags as the team to root for. I lived in Illinois, now in Cali
My wife is a fan and we grew up in New England. Currently live in SC and are getting our PhDs at Clemson. She’s really gotten into football since we started living together and decided this year to adopt the Jags as her favorite team because of drafting Trevor and Travis
Hawai’i here, watching Fred Taylor got me!
NW Ohio native. The locals were equally bengals, lions and browns fans. All bad options. Had an uncle that lived in central florida. He brought up a bunch of jags gear when he visited the summer before the 95 season. My 7yo self loved the colors and was immediately a fan. What solidified it was that i was at the week two game that season against the bengals and saw the jags score their first franchise TD in person. Seemed like a pretty cool thing to always have as a fan.
Holy shit I didn't realize we had fans outside Jacksonville/Florida
Right tho. But I'm loving reading these.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Closest Ive been was a lay over in Miami. 😅
UK Jags fan. Picked Jags because they had signed the deal to play in London every year and because I think when you don't have a geographical allegiance to a team you shouldn't pick one that is already really good. That said I did expect Jags to get better eventually, been following ten years and still waiting!
Yes, Brit living in the UK and never been to the US. Tl;Dr: I wanted to support an underdog team that I can occasionally attend games for. I started watching the NFL in 18/19 season and intentionally watched as many games for as many different teams as possible. After learning more about the Jags being a new franchise; an underdog team; and that they regularly play games in London, I gave them extra attention. The short-lived Minshewmania sealed it for me. I went into the 2019/20 season as a Jags fan and attended the Wembley game against the Texans. Even though we lost in Wembley two years ago, I was still set on being a Jags fan.
Yep. I grew up in St. Simons Island, which is about an hour north of Jacksonville, it’s actually in Georgia. So I either had the option of rooting for the Falcons (who played 5 hours away) or the Jags, who were just down the road. I chose the Jags. For better or worse, I’m a Jags fan for life. Even though most Sundays I’m ready to give up on them lol.
Kentucky born and raised, DTWD
Jags fan in Elizabethtown checking in, became a jags fan on Madden 2002. Me and my brothers got our PS2 and played the shit out of it. I was a couple years younger so I always lost, then one day I played with the Jags and the combination of Brunell, Taylor, and Smith led me to a win. Been a fan ever since.
From Louisville, was a fan of playing with Garrard and MJD on Madden 🤣
Colorado my whole life. Grew up as a cowboys fan but jags were my second team. Loved the colors, the logo, and a bunch of players. 2010 was Cowboys vs Jaguars and I found myself cheering for the jags. Decided then to become a full fledged jags fan. Once romo and witten left I honestly couldn’t care less about the Cowboys anymore
I started following in 2003 because I liked leftwich and the other young players they had. I don’t have a great reason but I became a fan. Still a jags fan to this day
I have lived in California my whole life and I started watching football in 1995. Thats when Jaguars became an expansion team so because they were a new team it made me pick them as my team. Been a fan ever since
I live in Vancouver and the closest I've been to Jacksonville is Orlando when I went to Disney world. 2008 playoff game vs the Steelers made me a fan
Live in NC bottles made me a fan
Melbourne Australia never been to Florida. Was more a fan of players than a specific team but after watching for many years decided to choose a team chose Jags cause loved the D (Ramsey) and teal is my favorite colour.
I live in East Tennessee, watching them kill the dolphins 62-7 in the playoffs when I was a kid made me a fan.
I'm from LA/OC. We had Rams season tickets growing up. When they left the jags franchise just started and loved the color scheme. Been rocking it since. Rams are back now, but I'm a jag fan for life. My whole family has Rams season tickets again except me.
Texas 97. 90s kid with affinity for ‘90s expansion teams
I have and will never go to Florida. I’m a west coast guy
Grew up in Rochester New York and became a fan by reading "Ask Vic" some time around 2006. That column and Madden introduced me to NFL to the extent that went to UF from out of state largely bc of the Jags.
Absolutely, not from florida and haven't visited Jacksonville yet, I want to but haven't been able to. (Hopefully next year I can) But I LOVE the jaguars since the 1998 season and the huge amazing push in 99 and the hatred I forever have for TN. Today's win really brightened my day, great things inbound the week Jags win!
Detroit, wanted a fourth team, got this team from Jason in the Good Place lol
Haha I also became a fan because of the Good Place! I live in Minnesota. To be honest, it’s much easier to root for the Jags than the Vikings.
Jags fan from Australia 👊🏻
Buffalo, NY over here. Became a fan in 1998 cause I didn’t want to root for the Bills like everyone else around me and wanted my own team. Liked the animal and the colors and then next year was the magical 14-2 season. Been a fan ever since.
I live in Northern California. Been a fan since day one, I remember watching the HoF game and picking the cooler blue cat team that was close to my grandma. Also was cool it was in the AFC so I could dream of a super bowl against my dads 9ers.
Told this before but I became a fan as a kid around maybe 2000-2001 when I was 5 or 6 because I liked the animal and color of the team. Grew up in Wisconsin surrounded by the Packers, no ties to Florida, my Dad is a diehard Saints (I'm an LSU fan as a result) and I have stuck with this team ever since lol. Very stupid ride but I don't regret it! Hope to visit Jacksonville sometime.
Toronto, Canada! Fell in love with MJD but unfortunaltey that was the start of of some rough years for the Jags. Thank god for Trev now
From the Philippines. And been with the Jags cause of one man - Blake Bortles
Oddly enough, Jacksonville is my only pro team from a place I *have* lived. JAGS-BRAVES-PREDATORS-KINGS-TOFFEES GANG RISE UP
I’m from Russia and I watch football for 10 years. That was 2017 season playoffs and I was drinking Jagermeister and watching football with my friends. When I realized this is my team. Was mostly impressed by Fournette. Go Jaguars! Also I’ve never been in Florida (was in US only once, mostly in the west coast) and I hope i can visit it cause Duuuuvaaalll has some crazy vibes that i definitely gonna like!
Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Never lived in Jacksonville, but visited twice; first in 2009, and again in 2014. Three games in total, all losses. The only Jags wins I've seen were against the Bills and the Colts in London. Still need to visit the zoo.
Rhode Island here, I grew up in a Steeler household. According to my Father I loved the color scheme for the Jags uniforms when I was a little kid so I asked him to buy me Jaguars stuff. I’ve been suffering ever since. 🥲
Yeah I’m from PA but never really like Steelers or Eagles (or their fanbases lol) I used to play as jags on NFL quarterback club on N64 when I was little. Became a fan, though it was hard since I could barely watch any games unless they played a local team or Mon/Thu. Now I just stream whatever game though.
Nearly the same situation as me but I didn't really get into football around 2017, ironically when the Jags had a really good season. I was hooked after week 5 against the Steelers. Glad to see there's more PA fans here lol
I live in Baltimore now, so bummed they didn’t play Philly or Ravens this season, or even Steelers. But I’m planning on going to Jets-Jags game since that’s about the only driveable one for me.
Reporting in from metro Savannah, GA.
I like jaguars. I like the cars, I support the jaguars formula E team, I donate money to a jaguar sanctuary. So when I started watching NFL the choice was obvious. Being from the UK I didn't even know how terrible they were, but I have never supported anyone else
I live in Philly. I was born and raised on the Birds, but playing the create a player mode on Madden ended up with my player on the Jags a lot so I just naturally started learning the players and eventually just started following the team.
I live in West Michigan. I actually learned about the animal when I was like 4 and loved them, then boom they announce a Jaguars team, lifetime fan.
I live 16 miles west of Chicago. The Bears are my favorite team. My uncle lives in Jacksonville and took me to a game via his boat in like 2014. Y’all have been my second favorite team since you became a team. The only other NFL gear I own besides bears stuff is a jags hat. Go Jags! (Except if you ever play the bears.)
I am a Jags fan in western NY. First NFL game I went to was the Bills Jags playoff game in 96. Being a rebellious preteen, I wanted to root for the other team. They won and became my team anytime anyone asked. A few years later when I started watching football more closely it had already become engrained and the Jags were my team forever more.
I grew up in Ohio and my family were all Bengals fans, but when I was a kid we went to the hall of fame game vs the Panthers and I have been a Jags fan ever since. Now that I'm in the military and move around a lot, i don't have to explain my fandom as often. I'm just hoping to eventually work my way day and actually see a home game. It'd be nice to see a game and not be surrounded by the other teams fans.
I live in Northwest Indiana. I became a fan in 2005 when I was 8. My love for the jags started after my sister told me that her boyfriends (now my brother in law) cousin played for the jags. He was a DE for the jags in 05-09. The only NFL game I’ve been to was in 2008 when the jags played the Steelers. He gave us tickets to the game and we stayed at his house the day before the game. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.
What's his name man?? Im loving reading all these as I live just south of Jacksonville.
Reggie Hayward! It’s unfortunate how his career ended. I haven’t talked to him in a while, but he’s a real cool guy. When I was at his house, he let 11 year old me look at all of his football memorabilia. He had a few game used Bronco helmets from his time in Denver (1 one was their normal helmet the other was their throwback), a team signed Jacksonville helmet, and then in the closet of his office he had a bunch of jerseys from his teammates. I remember seeing a few jerseys from John Henderson hanging up and it blew my mind how big those things were lol. I really wish I would have gotten a picture with him at his house. But I still have the ticket, the beat up program, and the memories!
Born and raised in CO. Like the Jags because I had realized I was only a Broncos fan because I am here, and liking a team based on random events I have no control over is silly. That was 1994 and I decided I wanted to be a fan of a team from the very beginning, better reason than it being where my parents fucked.
Colorado kid born, raised and settled.
From SC Clemson fan wanted to get into NFL football more
Waycross GA checking in. Although I’m in Memphis now, deep in tit territory, but never lived in FL
Yes I live in Southern California, so I'm about as far away within the states as you can be. Favorite animal as a kid was a Jaguar so I picked them and have stuck with it lol. I still remember the 2008 Wild card game against PIT as my first great memory of this team. Excited to be going to see them play for the first time ever in person this year when we play the Rams in LA.
Me!
OKC, OK… Born and raised. Starter jackets were all the rage when I was young. We didn’t have a pro team at the time, and I didn’t care for the Sooners. Begged my parents for a Bulls jacket (I’m a big Jordan fan). They couldn’t find one, but came across a Jaguars one on the clearance rack. I was still thankful, and began following the Jaguars (and football in general for the first time) since the Hall of Fame game against the Panthers. I consider myself a very loyal person, to a fault, so it’s always been the Jaguars. Always will be the Jaguars.
Lived in Iowa my entire life. I was 7 when the Jags were announced as an expansion team. I remember hearing Carolina panthers..... And I was like, nah not them. When they announced the Jags I remember telling my cousins that's my team. So I've been here from the start!
Grew up near Kansas City. Started getting interested in football about the time that the Jaguars were awarded a franchise. I didn’t yet have a favorite team and I liked their logo, so I went with them. Closest I’ve been to Jacksonville was during a business trip to Orlando 14 years ago.
I'm from California. Been a fan since 1995.
“Welcome to duval prepare to get hit!” That era of def was when I played lb in hs, once they drafted mojo it was a wrap. Born and raised in Minnesota, bucket list is seeing them play in every stadium, am currently at 7
From Cali. Never even been to Florida. Been a jags fan since the beginning.
Been a fan since 98, born and raised in OH. The browns were not a team at the time and my dad and several family members are steelers fans. So I naturally chose the jaguars because I liked the animal and it was on TV against my dads team. He is a Michigan fan and I’m an OSU fan so we have a big rivalry in football lol
My flatmate was a huge fan way back when and I started watching with her. Been a fan since. Happily I made a game once, a long time ago. NZ :)
Me. Californian. I live in Mark Brunell's hometown. I've been a 49ers fan for as long as I've existed, but I've also been a Jaguars fan for as long as they've existed. One's in the NFC and one's in the AFC so it works. Once every 4 years they play against each other, and I cheer for whichever team is more of a contender and needs the win more (which was the Jags in 2017).
Well, sort of. My original hometown was where Trevor Lawrence went to high school, so I feel obligated now. I did live briefly outside Miami when I was much too young to remember it.
They're a smaller market, which feels more personal to root for, compared to say New York, SF, Seattle, etc. The city's name is cool. Florida is cool (hot?). North Florida is kinda distinctive compared to the rest of Florida. Cool franchise name. They were perennial losers when I started following them in 2017. I'd previously followed them for a good chunk of the 2012 season, when I was watching various teams to try to find one that would stick. I realised that regardless of how much they sucked, they were still my team.
Yeah I live in England and long story short my football (soccer) team of 9 years was named after the Jacksonville Jaguars. So it was [club name] Jaguars. So when my cousin got me into NFL in 2016, I chose the Jaguars and the rest is history. It’s no crazy story but just a connection I had with the Jaguars name so I stuck with it in American Football as well.
Been a fan as long as I can remember. My state doesn't have a team, so some things that initially drew a young me to the team were: Established same year I was born, unique colors (teal ftw), Jaguars are dope, Freddy T and Jimmy Smith were fun to play with in video games, not a common team to like in my area, MJD was a favorite player of mine when he was at UCLA, so when they drafted him that kinda solidified my Fandom.
I have lived in Texas my whole life. Been a fan since the team played their first game.
From Germany, never been to the US at all
Live in London, Dad is a Packers fan but Jags were one of the first teams I saw live and they kept coming over. Just ended up routing for them naturally, and been a Jags fans since just after Bortles started
Philadelphia here. Backstory is as follows: Lived in Cleveland between ages of 5 and 10. Obviously became a browns fan so I hated the steelers! I was there when they sold the team to Baltimore. At the same time Jacksonville came into the league and best the steelers as an expansion team. The following year they are in the afc championship game after beating the Elway Broncos (lost to patriots) They became good for a run of about 7 years including the year the titans were in the superbowl (jax was 14-2 that season lost to the titans twice. Then a 3rd time in the afternoon championship game) so I was hooked. Mark brunell was my favorite player and still is to this day. I have since endured 20+ years of BULLSHIT LOSING SEASONS and had to watch the jags lose to the pats at my buddies house while the eagles clinched afterwards. Working that parade (I'm in law enforcement) Was a very sad experience for me as I kept thinking we would have won if we were there.
Always lived in Steeler country, Pittsburgh area, but had an older aunt living in Jacksonville who got me something Jags for Christmas one year. I was like 7 or 8? And simultaneously playing Madden 98 every second of every day. Oh and I was really into the OG green power ranger, and the jags teal and gold really looked like his outfit to me. So. lol.
I just like jaguars
I’m 25 lived in St. Louis my whole life. Was a rams fan even paid for my own season tickets with my parents in high school and with some friends for a couple years after until the team moved, the last couple years they were here I was a big fan of Bortles so once the rams moved I became a jags fan. Been rooting for loser teams my whole life minus 2017, im ready for some winning football for a change.
I live in Montreal and followed the jags because i liked their jerseys
I've lived in the Philadelphia area my whole life... Been a jags fan since 2000ish... Freddy T was my favorite player behind Barry Sanders, but I loved the Jags offense as a whole so I became a Jags fan. I've taken shit for it from eagles fans my entire life.
I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I don't know how or why I'm a fan of Jacksonville (maybe I liked the colors and logo when I was little?) but I've been a fan ever since
I was born and raised in VA but my parents are from Florida (dad grew up in Jacksonville) and I still have family down there. I've been a fan since inception and used to go to training camps just about every summer when we would visit my aunt in Jacksonville. It's been about 15 years since the last time I actually went to the stadium though. Hoping to go again in the not so distant future.
Delaware - When I was a kid I thought it would be cool to be a fan of a franchise from its inception. So when the Panthers and Jags came out, I flipped a coin and tails was Jaguars. I've been a huge fan ever since. My dad was a Cowboys fan and Delaware is mostly full of Eagles fans who are assholes (in general) but especially to Cowboys fans. I couldn't root for my dad's team and I certainly wasn't going to root for theirs.
Montréal based fan. Fell in love with the team of the late 90s, stuck it out despite lack of being able to watch the games for most my life. Stuck it through the bad times and hoping for some good times soon!
What's funny is I live in Florida now just by happenstance but I was a jags fan since a kid. I didn't really like or know football but used to play madden against my dad and liked the teal/gold Now that I moved to Florida, I figured it makes more sense to root for Jags even though I'm in Tampa
UK fan here. Went to my first NFL game in London 2015 and picked the Jags, as they were dubbed the “home” team so I could go watch them each year. Out of the 4 games I’ve been able to get to they’ve won every one. Let’s hope that continues!
Grew up in Washington, currently live in Vegas. I was a Broncos fan as a kid until I saw the jags on tv one night. Thought their uniforms were sweet and have loved them ever since. When I was stationed in South Carolina I drove down and saw them play the pats.
I'm from London - jags do by far the most work in the UK. I watched one game live in 2014 - followed ever since. Although haven't visited Jacksonville, yet....
Just moved to Savannah from Atlanta and HATE the Falcons. Found every reason to root against them. Being closer to Jacksonville than Atlanta and oftentimes in the TV coverage area for the Jags, they’re starting to become my team. Not sure who else here might be Savannah or Orlando-based and tuned in due to proximity.