JACKSONVILLE – This is a good team, having a good time.
Greg Newsome II has seen all sides of the NFL, fun times and bad, and the veteran cornerback is enjoying what's happening around the Jaguars these days. Because what's not to enjoy?
"It's amazing," he said. "We have a great mindset right now."
Newsome, who joined the Jaguars (9-4) via midseason trade, joined senior writer John Oehser for this 2025 Week 15 O-Zone Podcast. He discussed multiple topics, including the mood around a team that enters Sunday’s game against the New York Jets (3-10) at EverBank Stadium leading the AFC South by a game with 4 games remaining.
"Everyone's excited," said Newsome, who registered his first interception with the Jaguars in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday. "With the world still doubting us, it still gives us that hunger every single week to go out there and just prove ourselves right. We don't care what anyone thinks anymore.
"It's just about proving ourselves right and knowing what we're capable of. As a collective, we've been doing a great job supporting each other."
Newsome, too, discussed how he has adjusted since joining the Jaguars in an October trade from the Cleveland Browns. The Browns played primarily a bump-and-run, man-coverage scheme whereas the Jaguars play a zone-based system in the secondary.
"To really change a job title pretty much in a sense, it was really tough," he said. "In the last few games, I feel like I've started to finally become myself. It was a learning curve, for sure. It has been fun, honestly, to adjust.
"I'm at a point now where I know what to do. I can anticipate and make some more plays."
Newsome has started the last seven games, rotating at times in recent games with Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones and Christian Braswell, and also contributing at times – for the first time in his football career – as a "gunner" on punt returns. He has averaged nine snaps a game on special teams in the last three weeks.
"I'm a very selfless player," he said. "Everyone on the team would love to be on the field every single play. At the end of the day, we all can make plays. There are enough football snaps for all of us to be successful. My main thing is winning. I want to win football games.
"I'd never played special teams. If that's what it takes for us to win football games, then that's what I'm going to do."
And with the "world still doubting" the Jaguars, Newsome said motivation around the Jaguars is high entering Sunday with more still very much needed entering the final month of the regular season.
"As long as we believe in each other, we know what we're capable of," Newsome said. "You always want something to go into a game mad at. I always try to find something I'm mad at before every game. With people not respecting us, that's perfect for us. We're OK with it."
To listen to the entire O-Zone Podcast with Newsome, tune-in below. For more interviews on the O-Zone Podcast, click HERE.
