Jaguars Beginner's Guide to Football

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league made up of 32 teams. Divided into two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), teams compete each season for division titles, playoff spots, and the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.

Playing our inaugural season in 1995 as part of the AFC, the Jaguars are proud to represent Jacksonville, Florida. Since then, the Jags have built their identity through resilience, a loyal fan base, and memorable moments on and off the field.

Within the two conferences, there are four divisions, each containing four teams. Every team will play the other members of their division twice per season, once at home and once away. If a team wins their division, they get an automatic trip to the playoffs.

Training Camp plays a crucial role in player evaluation and roster decisions, as it is the first opportunity to conduct practices in full pads. Teams start with a 90-man roster and must decrease to a 53-man roster before the start of the season.

Weight Training & Conditioning

Strategy Sessions & Film Meetings

Drills & Practice Sessions

Scrimmages

Scrimmage- A structured football practice conducted in a controlled, non-contact environment that simulates life game conditions, where players from different squads within the same team compete for training, player development, and performance evaluation purposes.

Joint Practice- A training session where two NFL teams practice together in a controlled environment. Joint practices allow players and coaches to prepare for competition, evaluate performance against outside opponents, and rehearse game situations. A joint practice is not an official NFL game and does not count towards standings, records or statistics.

Every year, the NFL hosts an event where teams pick eligible collegiate players to join their rosters. This is called the Draft.