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Why are Jaguars fans always yelling ‘Duuuval’ during football games? What it means
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- Why are Jaguars fans always yelling ‘Duuuval’ during football games? What it means
If you're tuning in to Monday Night Football and hear tens of thousands of voices stretch a long, booming "Duuuuval!" during the broadcast, you're hearing the heartbeat of Jacksonville. It's not a taunt or a boo — it's a rallying cry, a proud salute to Duval County, the home of the Jaguars and their fiercely loyal fans.
For Jacksonville, "Duuuval" is more than just a chant . It's the heartbeat of Jaguars Nation. It started in the 1990s on local radio, where DJs shouted out the county as a way of representing home. Over time, it made its way into the stadium, first as a fan tradition and eventually as the team's signature roar.
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Today, 'Duuuval' is everywhere: on signs, shirts, social media, and most importantly, in the lungs of every Jaguars fan who belts it out on game day.
But what does it mean? Here's what you should know about the chant from Jaguars fans.
Why do Jaguars fans shout 'Duuuval' and what does it mean?
"Duuuval!" is a rallying cry of sorts for Jaguars fans to show support for Jacksonville's NFL franchise. The chant comes from Duval, the county in which Jacksonville is located. (Fun fact: Since consolidation in 1968, all of Jacksonville except for a handful of communities — including Baldwin and Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach — encompasses Duval County.)
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How do you spell 'Duuuval'?
The chant is spelled with three U's. (Duval, in Duval County, is spelled with just one U.)
When did Jaguars fans first begin saying 'Duuuval!'?
According to John Caputo, a founding member of the Jaguars fan club Bold City Brigade, the chant's origins at EverBank Stadium are hard to nail down. But he recalls former players Mike Peterson and Paul Spicer yelling the phrase in the mid-2000s, ESPN's Mike DiRocco reported in 2018.
The chant became more popular in 2013, other sources say, when Jaguars fans voted via Twitter to be referred to as Duval.
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(In any case, it's here to stay.)
Where did 'Duuuval' chant originate from?
"DUUUVAL" might be most associated with the Jaguars now, but it could be heard on local radio back in the '90s, when DJ Easy E , then of 92.7 The Beat, made it into a radio drop and popularized it , said Eric Moed.
A group of hip-hop artists then started calling it out at concerts. The wider Jacksonville community then adopted it — and many forgot where it came from.
Travis Hunter chanting 'Duuuval'
During his official team welcome back in April 2025, Hunter proudly belted out the team's signature "Duuuval" chant — a nod to Jacksonville and Duval County's long-standing rallying cry.
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The moment was caught on camera and quickly shared by the Jaguars across Instagram and TikTok, giving fans a first glimpse of the rookie embracing the local spirit. Safe to say, he's already making himself at home in Jacksonville.
What is the 'First DUUUVAL'? And how do you say DUUUVAL?
At the start of the 2018 season, the Jaguars began a new tradition before every kickoff, the First DUUUVAL of the game, in which a local notable yells the chant. First up was legendary Jaguars tackle (and now Hall of Famer and executive vice president of football operations) Tony Boselli.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Why do Jaguars fans say 'Duuuval'? What does it mean?
