| Team: | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Record: | 3–14 |
| Division Place: | 4th AFC South |
| Coach: | Urban Meyer (fired December 16; 2–11 record) Darrell Bevell (interim, Weeks 15–18; 1–3 record) |
| General Manager: | Trent Baalke |
| Owner: | Shahid Khan |
| Stadium: | TIAA Bank Field |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | None |
| Shortnavlink: | Jaguars seasons |
The 2021 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 27th season in the National Football League (NFL). This was their only season under head coach Urban Meyer and first under general manager Trent Baalke.
Jacksonville had the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, which they used to select Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars came into the season with a 15-game losing streak from the last season. The losing streak continued this season as the Jaguars started 0–5, before defeating the Miami Dolphins 23–20 in London. To date, the 2020–21 Jaguars' 20-game losing streak is the third longest losing streak in NFL history, after the 1976–77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26) and 1942–45 Chicago Cardinals (29).
The Jaguars finished 3–14, improving upon their 1–15 record from the previous season. However, they were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth straight year, following a Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans.[1] The Jaguars clinched the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, becoming the first team since the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 and 2018 Drafts to have the top pick in back-to-back years.[2]
On December 16, after less than a year and following repeated scandals involving the team, Meyer was fired as head coach and replaced with Darrell Bevell for the remainder of the season.[3] [4]
The team was criticized by the media following repeated scandals involving the team, with head coach Urban Meyer the most caught up in multiple scandals. During the offseason, some of Meyer's staff hires and free agent signings received backlash. In February, former Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle, who had left that job due to allegations of racism and bullying players, was hired as the Jaguars' strength coach before fan backlash led to him resigning one day later.[5] In addition, the signing of former Florida and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow as a tight end was criticized as a publicity grab,[6] [7] especially as Tebow had not played a down of football since the 2015 preseason and was eventually cut after the first preseason game.[8] On July 1, 2021, the Jaguars were fined $200,000 and Meyer was fined $100,000 for OTA violations.[9] The NFLPA then investigated the Jaguars after Meyer claimed that vaccination status was taken into account when deciding the roster cuts.[10]
In October, a video surfaced appearing to show Meyer inappropriately touching a woman who was not his wife while he was at his Columbus-area restaurant, Urban Meyer's Pint House, following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan said that Meyer's behavior had been "inexcusable" and that Meyer "must regain our trust and respect". Meyer later apologized to the team and personnel.[11]
Meyer was also criticized for benching running back James Robinson during losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.[12] During the loss to the Rams, Meyer claimed that Robinson's benching was "injury-related" and quarterback Trevor Lawrence had to request to put James Robinson in.[13] [14]
The tension surrounding the team got worse in December 2021, when Jaguars players and coaches were critical of Meyer's treatment of them, to which the team officially responded with assertions of Meyer's job security.[15] Meyer and wide receiver Marvin Jones got into a heated argument where Jones left the Jaguars facility. Jones returned to the facility when other staff members convinced Jones to come back, only to get into another argument with Meyer at practice.[16] [17] Jones would later deny getting into an argument with Meyer.[18]
Meyer also reportedly called his assistant coaches "losers" and that he was a "winner" and challenged assistants to defend their resumes.[16] Owner Shahid Khan met with players, members of the team's business department and coaches, including Meyer following the Jaguars loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 14.[19]
On December 15, 2021, former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo alleged that Meyer kicked him in the leg during a practice in the week before the Jaguars' final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. According to Lambo, Meyer also shouted at him, "Hey dipshit, make your fucking kicks." (Lambo had missed a field goal in each of the previous two preseason games.) After Lambo told Meyer never to kick him again, Meyer responded, "I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the fuck I want."[20] Later that day, Lambo reported the incident to his agent, who then reported it to the Jaguars team.
Urban Meyer was fired on December 16, 2021 finishing his tenure with the Jaguars with a 2–11 (.154) record. Darrell Bevell was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[3] Prior to Meyer's dismissal, quarterback Trevor Lawrence criticized the drama affecting the team in a press conference, without naming Meyer.[21] [22]
During the final week of the season, numerous Jaguars fans attended the team's home game against the Indianapolis Colts dressed as clowns in protest of unpopular moves by team management and the Jaguars' overall struggles.[23]
See main article: 2021 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 25 | from Los Angeles Rams | ||||
| 2 | 33 | ||||
| 45 | from Minnesota | ||||
| 3 | 65 | ||||
| 4 | 106 | ||||
| 121 | from Los Angeles Rams | ||||
| 5 | 145 | ||||
| 6 | 209 | from Los Angeles Rams | |||
Pre-draft trades
Draft day trades
| Name | Position | College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. J. Daniel | CB | Georgia | |
| Josh Imatorbhebhe | WR | Illinois | |
| Tim Jones | WR | Southern Miss |
The Jaguars' preseason opponents were announced on May 12.[30]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | L 13–23 | 0–1 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | ||
| 2 | at New Orleans Saints | L 21–23 | 0–2 | Caesars Superdome | Recap | ||
| 3 | August 29 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 34–14 | 1–2 | AT&T Stadium | Recap |
Jacksonville’s schedule was announced on May 12.[31] Ahead of the schedule release it was confirmed that the Jaguars would face the Houston Texans away to open the season and would host the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in week 6 on October 17. This was the Jaguars' eighth home game in London but their first at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[32] [33]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12 | at Houston Texans | L 21–37 | 0–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | September 19 | Denver Broncos | L 13–23 | 0–2 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 3 | September 26 | Arizona Cardinals | L 19–31 | 0–3 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 4 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 21–24 | 0–4 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap | ||
| 5 | October 10 | Tennessee Titans | L 19–37 | 0–5 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 6 | October 17 | Miami Dolphins | W 23–20 | 1–5 | Recap | ||
| 7 | Bye | ||||||
| 8 | October 31 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 7–31 | 1–6 | Lumen Field | Recap | |
| 9 | November 7 | Buffalo Bills | W 9–6 | 2–6 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 10 | November 14 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 17–23 | 2–7 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | November 21 | San Francisco 49ers | L 10–30 | 2–8 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 12 | November 28 | Atlanta Falcons | L 14–21 | 2–9 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 13 | December 5 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 7–37 | 2–10 | SoFi Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | December 12 | at Tennessee Titans | L 0–20 | 2–11 | Nissan Stadium | Recap | |
| 15 | December 19 | Houston Texans | L 16–30 | 2–12 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 16 | December 26 | at New York Jets | L 21–26 | 2–13 | MetLife Stadium | Recap | |
| 17 | January 2 | at New England Patriots | L 10–50 | 2–14 | Gillette Stadium | Recap | |
| 18 | January 9 | Indianapolis Colts | W 26–11 | 3–14 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
Jamal Agnew tied the record for longest play in NFL history when he returned 68-yard field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown.[34]