JACKSONVILLE – The intensity heightened, and the theme remained constant.
The Jaguars on Tuesday afternoon moved into Phase Three of their 2026 offseason program, which meant increased competitiveness and intensity – and also a familiar message from Head Coach Liam Coen:
Last season is no more, and the future is the main thing.
"New year, new team," Coen said.
Coen spoke shortly after Day 1 practice of Jaguars 2026 Organized Team Activities at the Miller Electric Center Tuesday, with OTAs marking the first offseason period in which NFL teams can work in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 situations. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence spoke immediately following Coen and reiterated the second-year head coach's message.
"It's a new season," Lawrence said. "Everyone has moved on, turned the page and we have to get better."
The Jaguars practiced close to two hours Thursday, starting in the early afternoon rather than the morning to accommodate players returning from Memorial Day weekend. Practice began indoors because of early afternoon rain, finishing outside in 90-degree temperatures.
"We were just trying to not run into any issues and give these guys a little time to get back and organized," Coen said, adding with a smile, "You try to do something nice and weather has a little bit of a different answer for you."
Jaguars OTAs are scheduled this week, next week and June 15-19, with a three-day mandatory minicamp scheduled June 9-11. All offseason activities except minicamp are voluntary under NFL rules. Players can work with strength and conditioning staff and attend meetings in Phase 1, with individual and group work allowed on the field in Phase 2.
Live contact and 11-on-11 work are specifically prohibited until Phase Three.
"I thought the guys did a nice job staying agile," Coen said of Tuesday's work. "We were touch and go there for a while in terms of being able to come outside, stay in. That was a little bit of an annoyance if you will, but I thought the guys did a nice job of setting a standard of how we practice and setting a tone for the rest of the spring.
"We got some good work and a lot of coachable stuff off tape that we'll be able to touch on. I was pleased with the way the guys came out and tried to execute."
Coen throughout the offseason has emphasized the need for looking ahead after the Jaguars finished 13-4 and won the AFC South in his first season as head coach last season. The Jaguars last made back-to-back postseason appearances in 1998-1999, with back-to-back AFC Central titles capping a run of four consecutive postseason appearances.
"Everything about the way we're attacking this is fresh," Coen said. "There are a lot of things we can lean into from last season in terms of just scheduling, operation and things like that. But the entire message is that we're attacking this season with a relentless pursuit.
"The way that we're going to go about it is, 'Man, we'll play anyplace, anytime, anywhere.' That has to be the mindset. For the games that we are at home, we need this city to continue to come out and support. We don't care who we're playing, what time it is, where it is. It doesn't matter.
"We're going to attack this thing with a relentless pursuit."
NOTABLE
The Jaguars will participate in "joint" practices before all three 2026 preseason games, Coen said Tuesday. The Jaguars are scheduled to play at the New Orleans Saints in Preseason Week 1 August 15, at home against the Carolina Panthers in Preseason Week 2 August 21 and at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Preseason Week 3 August 28. "You're in a little bit more of a controlled setting," Coen said of the advantage of a dual practice versus preseason games. "You can get the guys you want specific reps and not have to worry so much that you're putting a guy in a full-contact situation in preseason games that don't count against your record. It's a little more controlled and the teams we're practicing against have a good understanding of what that looks like, to do that together, and the guys … they get more competitive." The Jaguars participated in one preseason dual practice last season. That was before a Preseason Week 3 game at the Miami Dolphins. "You're always trying to simulate game-like and I think those opportunities simulate game-like," Coen said. "We're feeling a lot better about it in Year 2."
