The locker room at the Miller Electric Center smelled like stale tape and disappointment on Monday. It’s that weird, quiet "getaway day" energy where players are literally stuffing their lives into black trash bags while trying to figure out how a 13-4 season ended in a hallway of "what-ifs." Honestly, if you told a Jags fan back in August that they’d finish with 13 wins and an AFC South title, they would’ve kissed you. But losing 27-24 to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round at home? That’s a jagged pill to swallow.
This isn't just about one game, though. The latest news on jacksonville jaguars is a whirlwind of massive stadium construction, a 30-year-old coaching prodigy getting head-coach looks, and the very real possibility of losing some defensive anchors to the salary cap.
The Grant Udinski Problem (Success is a Double-Edged Sword)
Success brings vultures. It’s just how the NFL works. After Trevor Lawrence basically lit the league on fire this year with a franchise-record 28 touchdowns, teams are already trying to poach the architects. Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski turned 30 on Monday. His birthday present? An interview request from the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy.
It’s kind of wild to think about. A guy who was a quarterbacks coach in Minnesota just a year ago is now the "it" candidate for a top job. Liam Coen, the Jaguars' first-year head coach who pulled off the most historic turnaround in NFL history (from 4-13 to 13-4), didn't even let Udinski call the plays this year. Coen handled the headset. Yet, the "McVay effect" is real, and the league is desperate for anyone who can make a quarterback look as comfortable as Lawrence looked this season.
🔗 Read more: College Football Top 10: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Rankings
If Udinski leaves, the Jaguars face a massive hurdle: continuity. Lawrence finally found his rhythm. He’s "sustainable," to use his own word from the post-game presser. Changing the voice in his ear now feels like playing with fire.
The $51 Million Cap Casualty and Free Agency Stress
While the offense is worrying about coaching, the defense is looking at the checkbook. The news on jacksonville jaguars roster isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows right now. Arik Armstead is likely on the chopping block.
- Arik Armstead: He’s been a wall for the No. 1 run defense, but that $51 million contract is a massive weight. Cutting him saves the cap, but it leaves a gaping hole in the interior.
- Devin Lloyd: He just put up a second-team All-Pro season. He’s going to want a mountain of cash, and whether Jacksonville is the one to give it to him is the $100 million question.
- Travis Etienne Jr.: He was the engine for the first half of the season. He's a free agent now. Can you really let a guy who fits Liam Coen's scheme that perfectly just walk away?
Then you have the role players. Andrew Wingard played 94% of the snaps this year. Montaric Brown went from an injury question mark to a lockdown starter. These are the "glue guys" that make a 13-win team function, and a lot of them don't have contracts for 2026 yet.
💡 You might also like: Cleveland Guardians vs Atlanta Braves Matches: Why This Interleague Rivalry Hits Different
The "Stadium of the Future" is Actually Happening
If you’ve driven past EverBank Stadium lately, you’ve seen the cranes. It’s messy. The $1.4 billion renovation is about 10% done, and yeah, there are already reports of $100 million in cost overruns. But the "Stadium of the Future" isn't just a marketing slogan anymore; they’ve already finished the first of the four grand staircases.
They’re using this new material called ViewScape for the canopy. It’s supposed to drop the temperature in the seats by 15 degrees. If you’ve ever sat in the North End Zone in September, you know that’s not just a luxury—it’s a health requirement. The plan is to stay in Jacksonville for the 2026 season before moving to a temporary home in 2027.
Trevor Lawrence: "All of a Sudden, It’s Over"
Watching Trevor Lawrence clean out his locker was a reality check. He’s grown up. No more "potential" talk. He’s a 13-win quarterback who fell three points short against Josh Allen. The interception he threw to Shaq Thompson in the first half—the one where he was "a little late" on the throw to Parker—is going to haunt him all February.
📖 Related: Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big 12 Grind
But he’s not broken. He talked a lot about the culture being "sustainable." That’s the big takeaway from the latest news on jacksonville jaguars. For the first time in a decade, the Jaguars don't feel like a fluke. They don't feel like the 2017 team that caught lightning in a bottle and then shattered. They feel like a team that belongs in the conversation.
What Needs to Happen Next
The Jaguars aren't searching for an identity anymore. They’re searching for "margins." That means they can't miss in the draft, especially with rumors of them eyeing Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds to fix the secondary depth.
Actionable Offseason Steps:
- Resolve the Udinski Situation: If he leaves for Cleveland, Coen needs to promote from within fast to keep Lawrence's playbook consistent.
- The Armstead Decision: If they cut him, they must prioritize a high-motor interior defender in the first two rounds of the draft.
- Secure the "Glue": Re-signing players like Montaric Brown or Devin Lloyd is more important than chasing a "big name" in free agency.
- Manage the Stadium Distraction: With 2026 being the last year at "home" before the 2027 move, the team has to stay focused on the field while construction walls literally rise around them.
The 2025 season was a blast. 13-4 is incredible. But in the NFL, you're either getting better or you're getting replaced. The next three months will determine which one happens to Jacksonville.