After a roller-coaster start to his career, Jacksonville’s franchise cornerstone finally unlocked his elite potential in 2025. Now, the rest of the league faces a terrifying new reality.
Trevor Lawrence came into the NFL as the most highly-touted QB prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012. The Jacksonville Jaguars were "fortunate" enough to have the number one overall pick in 2021 and selected Lawrence without hesitation.
Drafted to be the franchise's savior, Lawrence came into the league with the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's fair to say Lawrence's career has been a bumpy road so far, but his amazing run to finish the 2025 season looked like a player finally realizing his enormous potential.
If Lawrence's late-season surge was a sign of things to come, the rest of the NFL better watch out.
Career Arc
Lawrence struggled mightily in his first year, as expected of a rookie QB playing on a bad team. It was a rude awakening for Lawrence, who finished the year with only 12 TDs vs 17 INTs, and a miserable 39.1 QBR, as the Jaguars limped to a 3-14 record.
2022 saw Lawrence and the Jags take tremendous steps forward. The second-year signal caller threw for 4113 yards (still his career high), while tossing 25 TDs and only eight picks. Jacksonville went on to finish 9-8 and take home the AFC South crown for the first time since 2017.
Lawrence then led the Jaguars to an improbable 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs, a game in which the Jags faced a 27-0 deficit. It looked like Lawrence was about to enter the top echelon of NFL quarterbacks. Not so fast.
Lawrence couldn't build on his success the following year. The Jags again finished at 9-8 and failed to return to the postseason. Even so, the team reaffirmed its belief in Lawrence, signing him to a shocking five-year, $275 million contract extension before the start of the 2024 season.
It looked like the Jags would have buyer's remorse, as Lawrence regressed heavily in 2024. The Jaguars finished 4-13, and looked far away from becoming a contender.
Magical 2025 Season
Under first-year HC Liam Coen, both Lawrence and the Jaguars enjoyed a magical 2025 season. The team shattered all expectations, finishing at 13-4 and winning the AFC South.
Lawrence was the main catalyst for Jacksonville's breakout season. Now in his fifth year, Lawrence threw for a career high 29 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He also found more success with his legs, rushing for nine TDs. The latter half of 2025 saw Lawrence perform at a level he had never reached in his career.
Led by Lawrence, the Jaguars won their final eight games of 2025. During that stretch, Lawrence threw for 18 TDs, had only five INTs, and added four rushing scores. The last five games of the year were especially impressive, as Lawrence never registered a QBR under 76.9.
What makes Lawrence's unbelievable play even more impressive is that he did it with Travis Hunter injured and Brian Thomas Jr being a shell of the player he was in 2024. Lawrence was outstanding.
Outlook For The Future
At only 26 years of age, Lawrence should just now be hitting his prime. That is a scary thought for the rest of the AFC. With a healthy Hunter and Thomas Jr returning to form, the Jaguars boast a terrific set of offensive weapons. All signs point to Lawrence's 2025 surge being a sign of things to come.
With Coen at the helm, Lawrence can solidify himself as a truly elite NFL QB in 2026. If he can build on his success last season, Lawrence will finally start living up to the hype he received coming out of Clemson.
With Lawrence now entering his prime, Jacksonville can become one of the powerhouse teams in the AFC and not just a one-year wonder. Lawrence has put the NFL on notice.
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