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Why Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Etienne thinks 2024 struggles will make him better person
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- Why Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Etienne thinks 2024 struggles will make him better person
The 2024 season was rough for Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne .
It was his worst statistical season, aside from his 2021 rookie year where he didn't play at all because of a foot injury. In 2024, he was unable to top the 1,000-yard threshold after doing so the previous two seasons.
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Etienne appeared in 15 games for the Jaguars , but the team struggled to run the ball effectively. He never topped 70 yards in a game this year and logged career lows in attempts (150), yards (558) and touchdowns (2).
He also split time more than the previous two seasons as Tank Bigsby took on a larger role . Bigsby ended the season with 168 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns.
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But above all else, the team failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after the game of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Houston Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-17. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"[This] season was very difficult," Etienne said during locker room cleanout. "I feel like I'm a very team-oriented guy. We really wasn't doing well as a team. I feel like the fun is in the winning."
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The Jaguars made the decision to fire head coach Doug Pederson at the conclusion of the season. Etienne said he found out from a group message with a friend.
He said he didn't have a reaction to his firing, adding it's "just how the business goes."
Now, as the team conducts a coaching search, Etienne will be playing for his third running backs coach in three seasons.
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Former coach Bernie Parmalee was let go at the end of the 2023 season and Jerry Mack took the head coaching job at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
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Where did the season go wrong? Jaguars couldn't finish according to Etienne
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
When asked where the season went wrong, Etienne pointed to Jacksonville's inability to close out games.
"We didn't finish. We had 10 one score losses," he said. "So ultimately, comes down to finishing, and we didn't do a great job of that."
Those 10 one-score loss games were the most by any team in the Super Bowl era , per ESPN Stats and Information. It was an issue that showed up at the tail-end of the 2023 season and carried over into the 2024 season.
"We're sitting here, not in the playoffs again, and we got to find a way to get back there," he said. "I think that's what we all play this game for. It's that chance to win the Super Bowl."
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To win the Super Bowl, the Jaguars are going to need to hire a coach who can come in and turn around the culture. That person remains to be seen, but they're progressing through their coaching search currently.
However, Etienne doesn't think a major rebuild is needed.
"We have a lot of the same guys who have been to the playoffs," he said. "We just got to find ways to continue to build. Next year, it's all about finishing those one score games, and turning them into wins and not losses.
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"That's just going to help us and I feel like the experience that we got through those situations this year, are going to help us next year."
Etienne learned about himself, feels like there's still room to grow
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: Tank Bigsby #4 and Travis Etienne Jr. #1 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate a third quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Despite a disappointing year on the field, Etienne said he grew in many areas of it.
"I learned a lot about myself, just character wise, and just who I am as a person," he said. "Not really as a football player. I feel like I've done much better as a football player, but I feel like you're truly tested when things aren't going your way, and I feel like [after] this year, I'll be better for it moving forward."
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Etienne was voted as the 2024 Good Guy Award winner by the Jacksonville chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association. The award is given to the player who is the most helpful and insightful with media members.
He was a player who made himself available to answer questions every week, despite losses stacking up. He also became a voice for the team as players like Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram suffered season-ending injuries.
It's part of an effort from him to be more of a leader for the team — something he spoke about multiple times during the offseason and training camp.
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"I feel like I could still continue to grow. Still be more vocal," he said. "Still really express myself and understand who I am. What I have done for this organization. Just continue to just push things forward and don't settle."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Etienne hopes bad 2024 season helps future
