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Why are Jacksonville Jaguars optimistic for turnaround? New leadership, fresh perspective
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- Why are Jacksonville Jaguars optimistic for turnaround? New leadership, fresh perspective
Soon, the Jacksonville Jaguars will return to the gridiron, and they will do so under new leadership and a renewed focus on righting the ship that's steered off course the past two seasons.
In January, Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided to part ways with both former head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke . The moves, made on separate dates, set a plan in motion to completely rewire the franchise's football division.
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After relieving Baalke of his duties, Khan quickly solicited Hall of Fame offensive lineman and businessman Tony Boselli to become the man in charge as the team's Vice President of Football Operations.
Khan hopes that Boselli, the team's first-ever draft pick in 1995, can bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the game to revitalize a franchise desperate for good times.
JAGUARS TRAINING CAMP INFO: How fans can get tickets for nine open dates
Along with Boselli, the Jaguars hired a new coaching staff led by head coach Liam Coen , and have added several people to an ever-changing front office led by general manager James Gladstone .
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Gladstone (34 years old) and Coen (39) make up one of the youngest general manager-head coach duos in the league, but have not shown naiveté during their first few months on the job.
"When there's an opportunity to be bold, we won't flinch," Gladstone said in April, shortly after pulling off one of the more daring trades in recent draft history to select an equally unique football player in Travis Hunter at No. 2.
Is Travis Hunter a catalyst for new Jaguars era?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) jogs to his first drill during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third mandatory minicamp Thursday June 12, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Hunter, a do-it-all player out of Colorado , will adopt the same philosophy that he did for two years with the Buffaloes: to play both cornerback and wide receiver on a full-time basis.
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The Jaguars are letting him do it, too . Coen showcased his boldness during the team's offseason program, splitting Hunter's time between both sides of the ball on the field and in the classroom.
Hunter is one of the only players in the league to get both an offense and defensive playbook after being drafted because he's too good, not because they don't know where to put him. The trust Coen and his staff have in Hunter isn't just through osmosis, though. The 22-year-old has given them no reason to distrust him and all the reasons to support what he wants to accomplish. His character, intelligence, physicality and know-how demand it.
"You see the type of guy that he is. He's in here early, he stays late and wants to work. He loves the game. The growth will continue. I think we'll see a little bit more of a jump once we get into training camp as well," said Coen.
Hunter focused on the defensive side of the ball for at least three practices during Organized Team Activities and even played both sides (final period on defense) during the team's wrap-up practice ahead of the summer break.
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The 2025 second-overall pick's buzz grows by the minute, and his certain successes will be something to document moving forward. For Jacksonville, it's a bright light in a sea of darkness that could spell the end of what some believe to be a curse.
When will the Jaguars report to camp?
Jaguars rookies are scheduled to report on July 19 and veterans on July 22.
Will Jaguars training camp be open to fans? When?
Yes, the Jaguars will open training camp practices for the public . That includes a scheduled eight practices that the public can attend and one season-ticket-holder-only practice (Friday, July 25).
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Here are the dates that'll be open:
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Wednesday, July 23
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Thursday, July 24
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Friday, July 25 (season ticket holders only)
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Sunday, July 27 (NFL Back Together Sunday, with rookie poster giveaway)
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Monday, July 28 (first day in full pads)
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Tuesday, July 29
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Friday, Aug. 1 (EverBank Stadium scrimmage, 7 p.m.)
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Sunday, Aug. 3
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Tuesday, Aug. 5
Jaguars look to avoid hangover after 2024 collapse
When camp officially kicks off, the franchise will look to do it without the 2024 season hanging over their heads . The amount of newness around the building ought to help, but there will be some obstacles to get over for players who've been here through the good and bad times.
When asked how quickly the team flushed last season on the defensive side of the ball, Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen didn't want to speak on it. "Next question," he said in June before exuding praise for new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile when asked about how involved he is as a coach.
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"Calais [former Jaguars DE Calais Campbell ] always told me, man, if you want to be great at something, you've got to love it, you've got to respect it. For me, he gives off that. He respects the game. He loves it. He loves the team. He loves the players who are playing for him," Hines-Allen said about of Campanile.
Last year, the Jaguars finished with a 4-13 record after multiple injuries and poor play on both sides of the ball derailed the team's aspirations. Jacksonville ranked just 26th in points scored and ranked dead last in pass defense and 27th in run defense, according to Pro Football Reference.
It didn't help that starting QB Trevor Lawrence missed seven games with a shoulder issue .
Jacksonville added to the defense this year beyond Hunter , signing free agent defensive backs Eric Murray and Jourdan Lewis to help shore up the backend of the defense while the team added depth on the defensive line and moved Arik Armstead back to defensive tackle from defensive end, his natural position.
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Offensively, the Jaguars added multiple players, including Hunter and fellow receiver Dyami Brown . The franchise also worked to bolster their offensive line by signing presumed starting right guard Patrick Mekari and center Robert Hainsey .
The team parted ways with veteran receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram , with Brian Thomas Jr. expected to develop further, and the team's new players on offense to help pick up the slack and improve upon it.
What's the biggest storyline for the Jaguars ahead of camp?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) talks with quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the 10th organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
There's no doubt that all eyes will be on Hunter, as they have been since he was drafted in April.
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Still, there's no bigger storyline in Jacksonville than the health and development of Lawrence.
After missing eight games over the past two seasons combined, Lawrence's health ought to be at the forefront of everyone's mind. Will he remain healthy? How long will the team have him for?
After being selected with the first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has enjoyed an up-and-down start to his career. In his second season, he helped carry the team to a 9-8 record and a trip to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Since then, the team has gone 13-21 with Lawrence missing nearly half a season.
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The team's leadership has changed, but Lawrence's health is still the priority and has been since Gladstone and Coen arrived in Jacksonville.
"I think to point back to some of the comments I made in the early going of being on the job, the idea of setting the dish in particular the internal sort of pocket, and a quarterback feeling comfortable with stepping into that, right? That's important as well. I think the moves in pro-free agency, the moves here, they all point to that," Gladstone said in April.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is taken off the field in a medical cart during the second quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
The team is making moves to set the dish for Lawrence, while also taking some heat off of him. Coen has often emphasized a running game and moves throughout the offseason have confirmed his commitment to it.
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The Jaguars signed the aforementioned linemen, while drafting two during the draft, too, including third-round pick Wyatt Milum . Jacksonville also drafted two running backs, including fourth-round selection Bhayshul Tuten , who is likely to earn playing time at some point this season.
The Jaguars in 2024 ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing at 101.7 yards per game. They brought in just 13 scores on the ground, tied for 20th.
Last year, as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, Coen helped the team improve its rushing attack, going from 32nd in the league in rushing in 2023 to fourth in 2024. That emphasis will be brought to Jacksonville.
"That's where it starts. To go into playoff games and to go do it, you've got to be able to run the football and stop the run, first and foremost," Coen said earlier this year.
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Some of what Jacksonville is doing will undoubtedly help the team's offense, but primarily it will help take some of the load off Lawrence with the plan for him to play a full season since the last time the team went to the playoffs.
The road to getting there begins July 23.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars keys for 2025 turnaround: Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter
