Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence Makes Sophomore Year Leap to First Pro Bowl

LAS VEGAS, NV – When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in 2021, they had high expectations that they were on the fast tracking to buck a losing trend that had plagued the franchise for the better part of the last decade.

After a disappointing rookie season that was marred by inept leadership under a short-lived Urban Meyer regime, the Jaguars appear to have found stability in their coaching department with last off-season’s hiring of Head Coach Doug Pederson paying immediate dividends.

Lawrence made tremendous strides this season throwing for more than 4,000 yards with better than a 3-1 touchdown to interception ratio, an area where he struggled in as a rookie. He seemed to get better as the year progressed, finishing the regular season with five consecutive wins while leading the Jaguars to their first AFC South Division Title since 2017 and earning his first Pro Bowl selection as an alternate.

Lawrence admitted that this was also his first organized flag football game but said ‘it was a lot of fun.’ One of the things that surprised him most about the reimagined NFL Pro Bowl Games were was how engaged and passionate the fans were about the game. Not far from a packed house, with a reported 58,331 fans in attendance, there seemed to be more enthusiasm for the game this year.

His 39-yard touchdown strike to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs on 4th and 20 was reminiscent of the plays he became accustomed to making. That combined with his knack of leading the Jaguars to signature comeback wins against the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys puts the franchise in an optimistic place with Lawrence possessing the qualities that you look for in a franchise signal caller. Of course, those wins paled in comparison to the 27-point deficit he helped them overcome in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 23-year-old Clemson product said that preparation and coaching were among the keys to success this year along with the chemistry and rapport that he started to develop with his guys on offense. More specifically, he says that ‘putting on kills and checks’ that Pederson implemented into the system were what brought the offense to life.

“That’s definitely a skill that I give credit to Coach Pederson, (Offensive Coordinator) Press Taylor, and all our guys involved with the game planning because they really gave me a lot of options when I was back there,” Lawrence said in the locker room after the Pro Bowl. “As the season went on, we definitely got better and better with that.”

There also seems to be some great synergy with the front office and coaching staff giving Lawrence the weapons he needs to succeed. In the off-season, the Jaguars signed tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk, who both made significant impacts this year.

In a sneaky blockbuster move at the trade deadline, they acquired the former first round pick Calvin Ridley, who is allowed to apply for reinstatement to the league on February 15.

“I plan on touching base and figuring out a time to meet up with him when I get back to Jacksonville and start throwing again,” Lawrence suggested. “I’m really excited to have a guy like that join our team – a couple guys on our team know him and have great things to say about him. He’s going to help us for sure.”

Although they lost a tough game to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, momentum is clearly started to build around the team and football insiders are taking notice.

“The sky’s the limit for this guy,” Hall of Fame quarterback and AFC Pro Bowl coach Peyton Manning said of Lawrence after the game. “I’ve known him since he came to our football camp years ago and have stayed in touch with him. Trevor wore (my) No. 16 because he was a Tennessee fan growing up, and I wish he would’ve gone to Tennessee, but we’ve gotten past that.”

“I like the way he carries himself. He’s got a great knowledge of the system.”

Manning suggested that the quarterback-coach duo could be a tough combination for a long time.

“I like when a head coach is calling the plays because that means there’s continuity in the offense,” he added. “I like the situation that Trevor’s in. They had great success this year and kind of sent a message to the rest of the AFC that Jacksonville is here, and I expect great things out of him in the next years.”

Pederson is just five years removed from leading the Philadelphia Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl championship. He proved he has what it takes to do it once.

Can he and Lawrence help lead the Jaguars to the prized Lombardi Trophy that has eluded them since they entered the league?

After this year, I'm convinced that it's only a matter of time.