JACKSONVILLE – Monday had a fresh feel, a feel of looking ahead.

As Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen and key veterans saw it, that meant a good feeling around the Miller Electric Center. That good feeling had another theme, too:

It's time to work – and that work matters.

"It's very clear guys are serious; I've heard the word 'win' a lot," Coen said.

Monday marked the first day of the Jaguars' 2026 offseason program, Coen's second such program with the organization. NFL teams with new head coaches began the program two weeks ago.

"It feels good to be back," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. "The energy is super high. I know it's Day One, but I'm excited for what tomorrow holds for us.

"We're getting really good work, so I'm excited to be back."

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence called offseason program "super important" in terms of chemistry and team building.

"That's the best time to have that structure and practice where it's all about fundamentals, technique as far as all the stuff we can control on offense," Lawrence said. "Now is the time to hone in on all the details and iron out all the stuff in our system and get guys along that might need some help as far as they're learning for the first time or whatever it is.

"There's a lot of chemistry throwing, too – routes and timing. Now's the best time to do all that before it gets really competitive and you're going against each other."

Coen said he was pleased with the work the first day, with Strength and Conditioning Eric Sciano addressing the team. The offense and defense also met as units before breaking into position groups – with emphasis during the position period on what Coen and the Jaguars call "three better, three best" with specific players.

"The guys were locked in," Coen said.

Jaguars coaches have been at the MEC regularly – preparing for the players' return and the 2026 season – since shortly after the Jaguars' 13-4 2025 AFC South Championship season ended in January.

"It kind of feels like the '26 season kind of getting started, getting to kick off in a lot of ways," Coen said. "It's great to get them (players) back because so much of the work that gets put in in the offseason with the coaches … you start to get sick of it.

"You want to get some of that stuff put into practice – with fundamentals, techniques, concepts. You're champing at the bit. It gets more competitive and you're ready to go."

Hines-Allen said while familiarity with Coen is high entering Year 2 of the team's decision-making regime, "Nobody's at ease."

"We have to come in with the expectations of this is a business at the end of the day," Hines-Allen said. "If you come in complacent, things are not going to end well for you. It's a good feeling to know that at least those guys making those decisions are guys that communicate with you and guys that want to win and guys that want the best for the team.

"If you are on that roster when we do make the roster or the practice squad, they believe in you."

The first two weeks of the offseason program – Phase One – are limited to meetings and strength and conditioning, with the three-week Phase Two including individual and group on-field instruction but no live contact or offense-versus-defense drills.

The final four-week phase includes what are known as organized team activities – three weeks of on-field work that includes team offense-versus-defense drills – and a three-day mandatory minicamp. No offseason work can include live contact and all work is voluntary except for the minicamp.

"We just appreciate guys taking the time," Coen said. "Anybody who's not here it has totally been communicated and understood. There are no surprises. The guys all seem like they're in a good place."

Coen on Monday said he discussed with players what he has emphasized throughout the 2026 offseason – that this is a new season, with new and important work to be done.

"It's huge," Coen said. "We have to attack our relationships, the communication, the way we operate with each other on a day-to-day basis because there are new faces. There's a lot of familiar and continuity, which is great, but we have to attack our relationships and the way we approach every single day at a high clip for us to be able to go where we want to go."

Coen also joked that in his second offseason as head coach there were "less guys looking at me [on Monday] like I've got something on my forehead when I'm talking."

"Just guys speaking the same language, understanding what the standards are in terms of the way we operate in the meeting room, the way we communicate," Coen said. "It was very clear within this half a day we've been here so far. If we have a 'we-above-me' mentality, which I believe that room of guys does, and they do it the right way …

"You can definitely feel confidence in the standard and confidence in the continuity of how we operate."