Even after going 13-4 overall and claiming the AFC South Title, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence still feels that the squad has a chip on their shoulder.

The reason for that is simple: the classic small-market reality. Because the major networks naturally spend most of their airtime chasing massive fanbases like the Cowboys or Patriots, a team like Jacksonville can easily fly under the radar.

The reason for that is simple: the classic small-market reality. Because the major networks naturally spend most of their airtime chasing massive fanbases like the Cowboys or Patriots, a team like Jacksonville can easily fly under the radar.

“I do think that there is some level of respect for our team. What we did last year, the players we have, the staff we have, all those things across the league. I would hope that there’s some level of respect that should be there. But as far as like the outside, I think there’s always going to be that little brother of our team in Jacksonville, which is a good thing because I think our city has such a chip on its shoulder,” Lawrence said on In Good Company with Mitch Morse.

“We're biased, obviously, and we kind of think everyone is against us at times, but I think it is true,” he added. “You look at it, there aren't a lot of people who really want the Jaguars to be good. Like it's a smaller market.  People love to talk about every other team. So I think there's always naturally things that you see you're like we're not really and then once it comes around say you talk people talking about real contenders or whatever like we're not going to be in a lot of those conversations even still which I'm not saying good better and different who really cares but I think there's always things that you can find to kind of say alright people still don't really respect us.” 

However, Lawrence knows that playing the"nobody believes in us" card is great for a pre-game speech or a high-stakes divisional matchup, but it has an expiration date. You can’t survive a grueling 18-week NFL season purely on spite and anger. 

If your only motivation is trying to prove some talking head on TV wrong, the tank runs empty the second you face a little adversity or string a couple of wins together. That’s why the QB emphasized building a consistent motivation for his team. 

“I'm sure as far as teams, maybe that's different, I don't know, but yeah, I think we can find plenty, but to your point. You can't rely solely on that as like your only motivation. I think there has to be a standard of consistency. It's like, okay, this is just who we are. Like we want to be in the hunt every year. It doesn't matter what people think. It's like this is how we go about our business.”

Lawrence’s mindset just shows the clear direction the Jaguars are headed in: another AFC South title claim. 

The updates from OTA of budding chemistries between players like Brian Thomas Jr. and Lawrence, plus positional stars potentially breaking out this season like Brendon Strange or Travis Hunter, make the Jaguars look poised for at least a Playoff run this season. 

Another point to note is that 2026 is only the second season under head coach Liam Coen, but the bar is set high after last season. The motivation is undeniably there in the locker room; now, all that’s left to see is how well the squad can actually execute it in the regular season. 

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