Jaguars center Robert Hainsey reveals the team's ambition: last year's success isn't a fluke, but the new, non-negotiable standard for future performance.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' turnaround last year was not an accident, and the team's center and captain on Tuesday added that their division-winning 13-4 showing last season is the new normal.
"I guess what we should want to prove to ourselves is that wasn't a fluke season. That's who we are," Robert Hainsey told former Jags center Mitch Morse on the "In Good Company" podcast. "That's the standard. Like coming in every day, living (up) to that standard, preparing that way because this is what we're capable of.
"Anything less than that, doing anything less than you're capable of, you should be disappointed in."
The Jaguars captured the AFC South title last season and hosted their first playoff game since 2022.
The sixth-year pro said this is the expectation under the Jags' new regime -- led by head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone, and football operations executive Tony Boselli.
Hainsey signed with Jacksonville last year as a free agent after spending his rookie-contract years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former Notre Dame standout is confident in the Jaguars' ability to stick together through rough patches.
"Adversity is going to come. ... It was a conscious effort to say, when this adversity comes, like, we're going to have to step it up," Hainsey said. "There's a lot of things we wish we could have done better. We're going to have to start fresh and continue to continue to climb now."
Jacksonville ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, behind the play of starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who threw 15 touchdowns and just one interception in the final six games.
Hainsey talked about the growth he saw from Lawrence.
"Trevor grew exponentially throughout the season. I thought he did an unbelievable job taking over as he got more comfortable and confident. And I mean, I thought he was playing like Trevor Lawrence at the end," Hainsey said. "And he's got the talent to be one of the best. No doubt. When he plays that way, it's not even close, dude. When he plays free. Oh, yeah."
Hainsey went on to say that Lawrence has a way of commanding the huddle that makes his teammates feel confident and ready to perform. This is high praise considering Hainsey played in front of future Hall of Famer Tom Brady during his time with the Buccaneers.
With Tampa, Hainsey also played under his now head coach Liam Coen, who at the time was the Bucs' offensive coordinator.
Hainsey talked about his relationship with Coen, and how their near-simultaneous move to Jacksonville strengthened their vibe.
"Whatever expectations I did have, I thought he blew out of the water," Hainsey said. "He was genuine with us. His messages were very serious and felt true to who he was. He wasn't trying to be anyone that he wasn't."
As Coen and his staff enter their second season in Jacksonville, expectations are high, and Hainsey is confident this team can continue to build towards being a true contender.
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