1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season

The 1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise's 3rd season in the National Football League and the 3rd under head coach Tom Coughlin. The team looked to reach the AFC Championship for the second straight year following a surprising run in 1996. The Jaguars improved upon their previous 9-7 record and won 11 games. They made the playoffs as a wild card team, playing the Denver Broncos on the road for the second straight year. This time they lost to the Broncos 42–17, bringing the Jaguars’ season to an end.

1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season
Head coach	Tom Coughlin
Home field	Alltel Stadium
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	2nd AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–42
Pro Bowlers	T Tony Boselli QB Mark Brunell WR Jimmy Smith P Bryan Barker K Mike Hollis
Uniform

The team also made a couple of changes to the uniforms. They changed the numbers to new font style numbers and added black side panels to the uniforms. During the offseason, the team had changed the font style numbers on the jerseys to a skinnier style with a black drop shadow in the back of the numbers. During the team's 1997 preseason games there were several complaints that the announcers and the viewers had a hard time recognizing the numbers on the players, so the team decided to make the jersey numbers wider and removed the drop shadow numbers by the beginning of the regular season.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1997 NFL draft

1997 Jacksonville Jaguars draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	21	Renaldo Wynn	Defensive tackle	Notre Dame
2	50	Mike Logan	Cornerback	West Virginia
3	79	James Hamilton	Linebacker	North Carolina
4	114	Seth Payne	Defensive tackle	Cornell
5	147	Damon Jones	Tight end	Southern Illinois
6	184	Daimon Shelton	Running back	Sacramento State
7	221	Jon Hesse	Linebacker	Nebraska
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1997 Undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Curtis Anderson	Cornerback	Pittsburgh
Jamie Baisley	Linerbacker	Indiana
Isaac Curtis	Tight end	Kentucky
Kevin Devine	Cornerback	California
Todd Fordham	Tackle	Florida State
Lance Funderburk	Quarterback	Valdosta State
James Kidd	Wide receiver	Colorado
Jabbar Threats	Defensive end	Michigan State

Personnel

Staff

1997 Jacksonville Jaguars staff

Front office Chairman/president/chief executive officer – Wayne Weaver Senior vice president of football operations – Michael Huyghue Director of college scouting – Rick Reiprish Director of pro personnel – Ron Hill Assistant director of pro personnel – Fran Foley College scout – Louis Clark College scout - Gene Smith College scout – Rick Mueller Head coaches Head coach – Tom Coughlin Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Chris Palmer Running backs – Jerald Ingram Wide receivers – Pete Carmichael Tight ends – Fred Hoaglin Offensive line – Mike Maser

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dick Jauron Defensive line – John Pease Linebackers – Steve Szabo Outside linebackers – Lucious Selmon Defensive backs/secondary – Randy Edsall Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Larry Pasquale Assistant special teams – Joe Baker Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jerry Palmieri Assistant strength and conditioning – Jeff Hurd

Roster

1997 Jacksonville Jaguars roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  8 Mark Brunell 11 Rob Johnson 16 Steve Matthews Running backs (RB) 49 Ty Hallock FB 23 Randy Jordan 20 Natrone Means 31 Daimon Shelton FB 33 James Stewart Wide receivers (WR) 84 Reggie Barlow PR 80 Willie Jackson KR 87 Keenan McCardell 81 Will Moore 82 Jimmy Smith Tight ends (TE) 86 Derek Brown 85 Rich Griffith LS 88 Damon Jones 83 Pete Mitchell

Offensive linemen (OL) 71 Tony Boselli T 62 Ben Coleman G/T 73 Brian DeMarco G 78 Todd Fordham T 68 Mark Nori G 67 Jeff Novak G 72 Leon Searcy T 76 Rich Tylski G 79 Dave Widell Defensive linemen (DL) 90 Tony Brackens DE 56 Jeff Lageman DE 91 Seth Payne DT 96 Clyde Simmons DE 99 Joel Smeenge DE 98 Jabbar Threats DE 93 Esera Tuaolo DT 95 Jose White DT 97 Renaldo Wynn DT

Linebackers (LB) 52 Brant Boyer 54 James Hamilton OLB 51 Kevin Hardy OLB 57 Jeff Kopp OLB 50 Eddie Robinson OLB 58 Bryan Schwartz MLB Defensive backs (DB) 25 Curtis Anderson CB 21 Aaron Beasley CB 45 Travis Davis SS 26 Kevin Devine CB 27 Deon Figures CB 28 Dana Hall SS 37 Chris Hudson FS 32 Mike Logan FS 29 Ricky Parker FS 41 Dave Thomas CB Special teams  4 Bryan Barker P  1 Mike Hollis K

Practice squad 75 Harold Gragg DE 59 Tyrone Hines LB 35 Malcolm Thomas RB 65 Craig Warren T Reserve 63 Michael Cheever C (IR) 92 Don Davey DT (IR) 64 John Jurkovic DT (IR) 55 Tom McManus LB (IR) 39 Chris Parker RB (IR) 94 Kelvin Pritchett DT (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 6 reserve, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 31, 1997	at Baltimore Ravens	W 28–27	1–0	Memorial Stadium	61,018
2	September 7, 1997	New York Giants	W 40–13	2–0	Alltel Stadium	70,581
3	Bye
4	September 22, 1997	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 30–21	3–0	Alltel Stadium	73,016
5	September 28, 1997	at Washington Redskins	L 12–24	3–1	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium	74,421
6	October 5, 1997	Cincinnati Bengals	W 21–13	4–1	Alltel Stadium	67,128
7	October 12, 1997	Philadelphia Eagles	W 38–21	5–1	Alltel Stadium	69,150
8	October 19, 1997	at Dallas Cowboys	L 22–26	5–2	Texas Stadium	64,464
9	October 26, 1997	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 17–23 (OT)	5–3	Three Rivers Stadium	57,011
10	November 2, 1997	at Tennessee Oilers	W 30–24	6–3	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium	27,208
11	November 9, 1997	Kansas City Chiefs	W 24–10	7–3	Alltel Stadium	70,444
12	November 16, 1997	Tennessee Oilers	W 17–9	8–3	Alltel Stadium	70,070
13	November 23, 1997	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 26–31	8–4	Cinergy Field	55,158
14	November 30, 1997	Baltimore Ravens	W 29–27	9–4	Alltel Stadium	63,712
15	December 7, 1997	New England Patriots	L 20–26	9–5	Alltel Stadium	73,446
16	December 14, 1997	at Buffalo Bills	W 20–14	10–5	Rich Stadium	41,231
17	December 21, 1997	at Oakland Raiders	W 20–9	11–5	Oakland Coliseum	40,032

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens

Week One: Baltimore Ravens vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	17	7	0	7	31
Ravens	0	17	7	3	27

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Date: August 31, 1997
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 61,018
• Recap

Game information

First quarter JAC – Rob Johnson 25-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 10:17. Jaguars 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 4:43. JAC – Natrone Means 1-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 2:14. Jaguars 14–0. Drive: 12 plays, 93 yards, 6:12. Second quarter BAL – Jermaine Lewis 17-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Matt Stover kick), 13:16. Jaguars 14–7. Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 3:58. BAL – Jermaine Lewis 42-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Matt Stover kick), 7:16. Tied 14–14. Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 4:24. JAC – Jimmy Smith 20-yard pass from Rob Johnson (Mike Hollis kick), 1:08. Jaguars 21–14. Drive: 4 plays, 34 yards, 1:12. BAL – Matt Stover 33-yard field goal, 0:00. Jaguars 21–17. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 1:08. Third quarter BAL – Michael Jackson 54-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Matt Stover kick), 13:58. Ravens 24–21. Drive: 3 plays, 56 yards, 1:02. Fourth quarter BAL – Matt Stover 25-yard field goal, 8:46. Ravens 27–21. Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 6:10. JAC – Jimmy Smith 28-yard pass from Rob Johnson (Mike Hollis kick), 5:47. Jaguars 28–27. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:59. Top passers JAC – Rob Johnson – 20/24, 294 yards, 2 TD BAL – Vinny Testaverde – 24/41, 322 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Top rushers JAC – Natrone Means – 25 rushes, 67 yards, TD BAL – Earnest Byner – 14 rushes, 63 yards Top receivers JAC – Jimmy Smith – 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD BAL – Michael Jackson – 8 receptions, 143 yards, TD

Week 2: vs New York Giants

Week Two: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	7	0	6	0	13
Jaguars	0	20	3	17	40

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

• Date: September 7, 1997
• Game time: 14:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 70,581
• Recap

Game information

First quarter NYG – Tiki Barber 4-yard run (Brad Daluiso kick), 2:29. Giants 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 27 yards, 0:54. Second quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 29-yard field goal, 14:14. Giants 7–3. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 3:15. JAC – James Stewart 1-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 10:52. Jaguars 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards, 2:59. JAC – Natrone Means 9-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 3:12. Jaguars 17–7. Drive: 14 plays, 82 yards, 6:32. JAC – Mike Hollis 52-yard field goal, 0:00. Jaguars 20–7. Drive: 5 plays, 33 yards, 0:56. Third quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 36-yard field goal, 2:45. Jaguars 23–7. Drive: 8 plays, 39 yards, 5:27. NYG – Chris Calloway 8-yard pass from Dave Brown (pass failed), 0:30. Jaguars 23–13. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:15. Fourth quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 42-yard field goal, 9:43. Jaguars 26–13. Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 2:53. JAC – Natrone Means 5-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 5:56. Jaguars 33–13. Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:52. JAC – James Stewart 12-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 1:55. Jaguars 40–13. Drive: 6 plays, 27 yards, 2:40. Top passers NYG – Dave Brown – 16/35, 182 yards, TD, INT JAC – Steve Matthews – 23/35, 252 yards Top rushers NYG – Tiki Barber – 11 rushes, 17 yards, TD JAC – Natrone Means – 24 rushes, 85 yards, 2 TD Top receivers NYG – Tiki Barber – 3 receptions, 43 yards JAC – Jimmy Smith – 8 receptions, 117 yards

Week 4: vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Four: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	0	7	7	21
Jaguars	7	10	3	10	30

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

• Date: September 22, 1997
• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
• Game attendance: 73,016
• Recap

Game information

First quarter JAC – Natrone Means 1-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 9:48. Jaguars 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 5:12. PIT – Kordell Stewart 6-yard run (Norm Johnson kick), 6:10. Tied 7–7. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:38. Second quarter JAC – Jimmy Smith 11-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick), 12:36. Jaguars 14–7. Drive: 9 plays, 38 yards, 5:30. JAC – Mike Hollis 20-yard field goal, 0:04. Jaguars 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 33 yards, 1:17. Third quarter PIT – Yancy Thigpen 11-yard pass from Kordell Stewart (Norm Johnson kick), 7:21. Jaguars 17–14. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 7:39. JAC – Mike Hollis 45-yard field goal, 3:25. Jaguars 20–14. Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 3:56. Fourth quarter PIT – Mark Bruener 1-yard pass from Kordell Stewart (Norm Johnson kick), 14:56. Steelers 21–20. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 3:29. JAC – Mike Hollis 27-yard field goal, 4:14. Jaguars 23–21. Drive: 14 plays, 72 yards, 6:14. JAC – Chris Hudson 58-yard blocked field goal return (Mike Hollis kick), 0:00. Jaguars 30–21. Top passers PIT – Kordell Stewart – 11/16, 155 yards, 2 TD, INT JAC – Mark Brunell – 24/42, 306 yards, TD, Top rushers PIT – Jerome Bettis – 21 rushes, 114 yards JAC – Natrone Means – 24 rushes, 40 yards, TD Top receivers PIT – Charles Johnson – 4 receptions, 88 yards JAC – Jimmy Smith – 10 receptions, 164 yards, TD

Week 5: at Washington Redskins

Week Five: Washington Redskins vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	6	3	3	0	12
Redskins	0	14	0	10	24

at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland

• Date: September 28, 1997
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
• Game attendance: 74,421
• Recap

Game information

First quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 30-yard field goal, 13:16. Jaguars 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:25. JAC – Mike Hollis 42-yard field goal, 1:34. Jaguars 6–0. Drive: 13 plays, 52 yards, 6:24. Second quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 25-yard field goal, 12:08. Jaguars 9–0. Drive: 6 plays, 13 yards, 2:52. WSH – Leslie Shepherd 10-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick), 5:55. Jaguars 9–7. Drive: 6 plays, 28 yards, 3:16. WSH – Jamie Asher 8-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick), 1:16. Redskins 14–9. Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards, 3:12. Third quarter JAC – Mike Hollis 47-yard field goal, 3:28. Redskins 14–12. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:59. Fourth quarter WSH – Scott Blanton 47-yard field goal, 11:55. Redskins 17–12. Drive: 14 plays, 55 yards, 6:33. WSH – Leslie Sheppard 13-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick), 5:48. Redskins 24–12. Drive: 6 plays, 17 yards, 3:04. Top passers JAC – Mark Brunell – 16/31, 294 yards, 2 INT WSH – Gus Frerotte – 16/24, 244 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers JAC – Natrone Means – 18 rushes, 62 yards WSH – Terry Allen – 36 rushes, 122 yards Top receivers JAC – Jimmy Smith – 4 receptions, 52 yards WSH – Leslie Shepherd – 4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD

Week 6: vs Cincinnati Bengals

Week Six: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	7	6	0	13
Jaguars	7	0	7	7	21

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

• Date: October 5, 1997
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 67,128
• Recap

Game information

First quarter JAC – Ty Hallock 10-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick), 4:44. Jaguars 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 1:16. Second quarter CIN – Ki-Jana Carter 1-yard run (Doug Pelfrey kick), 3:09. Tied 7–7. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:59. Third quarter JAC – James Stewart 7-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick), 11:08. Jaguars 14–7. Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 3:53. CIN – Jeff Blake 8-yard run (kick failed), 4:16. Jaguars 14–13. Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 6:52. Fourth quarter JAC – Willie Jackson 12-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick), 8:49. Jaguars 21–13. Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 5:43. Top passers CIN – Jeff Blake – 16/27, 232 yards JAC – Mark Brunell – 14/27, 164 yards, 3 TD Top rushers CIN – Jeff Blake – 11 rushes, 75 yards, TD JAC – Natrone Means – 15 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers CIN – Carl Pickens – 3 receptions, 53 yards JAC – Jimmy Smith – 4 receptions, 57 yards

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers	11	5	0	.688	372	307	L1
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars	11	5	0	.688	394	318	W2
Tennessee Oilers	8	8	0	.500	333	310	W1
Cincinnati Bengals	7	9	0	.438	355	405	W3
Baltimore Ravens	6	9	1	.406	326	345	L1

Postseason

Main article: 1997–98 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
Wild Card	December 27, 1997	at Denver Broncos (4)	L 17–42	0–1	Mile High Stadium	74,481

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs (4) Denver Broncos

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (5) Jacksonville Jaguars at (4) Denver Broncos – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	7	10	0	17
Broncos	14	7	0	21	42

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Date: December 27, 1997
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game attendance: 74,481

After upsetting the Broncos in the playoffs in the previous year, the Jaguars fell short in the re-match. John Elway lead the Broncos to a 42–17 win over the visiting Jaguars, throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown. Mark Brunell was 18 for 32 for 203 yards, but had no touchdowns on top of an interception. Similar to the year before when the Broncos could not stop Natrone Means and the Jaguars running game, the Jaguars struggled all game to contain the Broncos running attack. Terrell Davis carried 31 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Nonetheless, the game was close throughout, as the Broncos led by only 21-17 late in the 3rd. But the Broncos would score 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, ending the Jaguars season.

Awards and records

• Mike Hollis, franchise record (tied), most field goals in one game, 5 field goals (November 30, 1997)
• Mike Hollis, franchise record, most field goals in one season (tied), 31 field goals
• Mike Hollis, franchise record, most points in one season, 134 points
• James Stewart, franchise record, most touchdowns in one game, 5 touchdowns (October 12, 1997)
• James Stewart, franchise record, most points in one game, 30 points (October 12, 1997)

External links

• Jaguars on Pro Football Reference
• Jaguars Schedule on jt-sw.com