Jaguars History: 1998 Season

Highlights from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 1998 season

Last offseason, I asked on Twitter and Facebook what you consider the Jaguars’ best season. After reading your responses, I highlighted the 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, and 2017 seasons. With the Jacksonville Jaguars entering their 30th season this year, I thought now would be a good time to revisit the rest of their seasons beginning with the 1998 season.

During the 1998 NFL Draft, the Jaguars selected (in order): RB Fred Taylor, DB Donovin Darius, DB Cordell Taylor, QB Jonathan Quinn, RB Tavian Banks, DT Harry Deligianis, C John Wade, DE Lamanzer Williams, FB Kevin McLeod, WR Alvis Whitted, and LB Brandon Tolbert.

The team was coached by Tom Coughlin and finished the season first in the AFC Central Division with an 11-5 regular season record. The defense ran a 4-3 alignment. The Jaguars ended the preseason with a record of 2-2. Alltel Stadium averaged 70,184 attendees per game and had a season total of 561,472 attendees.

Preseason uniforms

Week 1: Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 6, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 24 – Bears 23
Attendance: 55,614

James Stewart and Jimmy Smith scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 22 out of 25 attempted passes for 207 yards. James Stewart led the team with 115 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led the team with 90 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 21.00 yards in kickoff returns and 8.00 yards in punt returns. Mike Hollis made the field goal attempt.

Week 1 uniforms

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Alltel Stadium on September 13, 1998
Final score: Chiefs 16 – Jaguars 21
Attendance: 69,821

Reggie Barlow, Jimmy Smith, and James Stewart scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 11 out of 18 attempted passes for 126 yards. James Stewart led the team with 103 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led the team with 57 receiving yards. Tavian Banks averaged 65.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 44.67 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted four times for 147 yards, and Mike Hollis missed both field goal attempts. Brant Boyer and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks.

Week 2 uniforms

Week 3: Baltimore Ravens at Alltel Stadium on September 20, 1998
Final score: Ravens 10 – Jaguars 24
Attendance: 67,069

Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, and Damon Jones scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 25 out of 34 attempted passes for 376 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 128 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 116 receiving yards. Tavian Banks averaged 16.50 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 13.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted eight times for 304 yards, and Mike Hollis made one out of two attempted field goals. Chris Hudson had an interception. Kelvin Pritchett and Fernando Smith recorded sacks.

Week 3 uniforms

Week 4: Tennessee Oilers at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 27, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 27 – Oilers 22
Attendance: 34,656

Damon Jones, Keenan McCardell, and Fred Taylor scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 17 out of 28 attempted passes for 155 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 116 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 68 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 24.00 yards in kickoff returns and 3.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted three times for 154 yards, and Mike Hollis made both field goal attempts. Travis Davis and Chris Hudson had interceptions. Joel Smeenge, Kelvin Pritchett, Bryce Paup, Kevin Hardy, and Travis Davis recorded sacks.

Week 4 uniforms

Week 5: Bye Week

Week 6: Miami Dolphins at Alltel Stadium on October 12, 1998
Final score: Dolphins 21 – Jaguars 28
Attendance: 74,051

Fred Taylor and Keenan McCardell scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 12 out of 18 attempted passes for 213 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 89 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 86 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 25.00 yards in kickoff returns and 6.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted seven times for 313 yards, and Mike Hollis missed the field goal attempt. Aaron Beasley had an interception. Tony Brackens and Bryce Paup recorded sacks.

Week 6 uniforms

Week 7: Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 18, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 16 – Bills 17
Attendance: 77,635

Tavian Banks scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 16 out of 28 attempted passes for 119 yards. Brunell and Daimon Shelton led the team with 44 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 42 receiving yards. Mike Logan averaged 18.33 yards in kickoff returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 262 yards, and Mike Hollis made three out of three attempted field goals. Joel Smeenge recorded a sack.

Week 7 uniforms

Week 8: Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium on October 25, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 24 – Broncos 37
Attendance: 75,217

Fred Taylor, Damon Jones, and Pete Mitchell scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 28 out of 46 attempted passes for 353 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 27 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 121 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 34.33 yards in kickoff returns, and Mike Logan averaged 17.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted four times for 158 yards, and Mike Hollis made one out of two attempted field goals.

Week 8 uniforms

Week 9: Baltimore Ravens at Ravens Stadium on November 1, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 45 – Ravens 19
Attendance: 68,915

Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor, Daimon Shelton, Alvis Whitted, and Donovin Darius scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 13 out of 20 attempted passes for 237 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 87 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 27.00 yards in kickoff returns and 3.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted three times for 135 yards, and Mike Hollis made the field goal attempt. Deon Figures had an interception. Bryce Paup and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks.

Week 9 uniforms

Week 10: Cincinnati Bengals at Alltel Stadium on November 8, 1998
Final score: Bengals 11 – Jaguars 24
Attendance: 67,040

Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, and Aaron Beasley scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed five out of twelve attempted passes for 111 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 118 rushing yards, and Alvis Whitted led with 55 receiving yards. Mike Logan averaged 38.50 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 16.67 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 231 yards, and Mike Hollis made the field goal attempt. Travis Davis had an interception. Kelvin Pritchett, Joel Smeenge, Fernando Smith, and Jose White recorded sacks.

Week 10 uniforms

Week 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Alltel Stadium on November 15, 1998
Final score: Buccaneers 24 – Jaguars 29
Attendance: 72,974

Fred Taylor scored three touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 22 out of 37 attempted passes for 248 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 128 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 72 receiving yards. Mike Logan averaged 27.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 4.75 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted six times for 302 yards, and Mike Hollis made three out of three attempted field goals. Aaron Beasley and Kevin Hardy had interceptions. Bryce Paup and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks.

Week 11 uniforms

Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on November 22, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 15 – Steelers 30
Attendance: 59,124

Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 18 out of 42 attempted passes for 212 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 67 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 71 receiving yards. Mike Logan averaged 28.67 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 17.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted six times for 299 yards.

Week 12 uniforms

Week 13: Cincinnati Bengals at Cinergy Field on November 29, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 34 – Bengals 17
Attendance: 55,432

Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell, and Damon Jones scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 19 out of 35 attempted passes for 244 yards. George Jones led the team with 42 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 110 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 18.00 yards in kickoff returns and 23.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted six times for 273 yards, and Mike Hollis made both field goal attempts. Kevin Hardy and Chris Hudson had interceptions. Jose White recorded a sack.

Week 13 uniforms

Week 14: Detroit Lions at Alltel Stadium on December 6, 1998
Final score: Lions 22 – Jaguars 37
Attendance: 70,717

Keenan McCardell, Fred Taylor, and Jimmy Smith scored touchdowns. Jamie Martin completed 15 out of 23 attempted passes for 228 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 183 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 112 receiving yards. Mike Logan averaged 20.50 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 13.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted twice for 81 yards, and Mike Hollis made three out of three attempted field goals. Tony Brackens, John Jurkovic, Bryce Paup, Joel Smeenge, Jose White, and Renaldo Wynn recorded sacks.

Week 14 uniforms

Week 15: Tennessee Oilers at Alltel Stadium on December 13, 1998
Final score: Oilers 16 – Jaguars 13
Attendance: 65,657

Fred Taylor scored the only touchdown. Jonathan Quinn completed 12 out of 18 attempted passes for 107 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 42 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 103 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 25.00 yards in kickoff returns and 11.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted six times for 304 yards, and Mike Hollis made both field goal attempts. Aaron Beasley had an interception. Tony Brackens and Bryce Paup recorded sacks.

Week 15 uniforms

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 20, 1998
Final score: Jaguars 10 – Vikings 50
Attendance: 64,363

Pete Mitchell scored the only touchdown. Jonathan Quinn completed 12 out of 27 attempted passes for 88 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 105 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 30.00 yards in kickoff returns and 9.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted eight times for 349 yards, and Mike Hollis made the field goal attempt. Kevin Hardy recorded a sack.

Week 16 uniforms

Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers at Alltel Stadium on December 28, 1998
Final score: Steelers 3 – Jaguars 21
Attendance: 74,143

Jonathan Quinn and Fred Taylor scored touchdowns. Jonathan Quinn completed 10 out of 19 attempted passes for 192 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 71 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 85 receiving yards. George Jones averaged 21.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 9.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted seven times for 297 yards. Kevin Devine and Dave Thomas had interceptions. Tony Brackens, Bryce Paup, and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks.

Week 17 uniforms

AFC Wild Card: New England Patriots at Alltel Stadium on January 3, 1999
Final score: Patriots 10 – Jaguars 25
Attendance: 71,139

Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 14 out of 34 attempted passes for 161 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 162 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 72 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 22.00 yards in kickoff returns and 10.29 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted six times for 269 yards, and Mike Hollis made four out of four attempted field goals. Chris Hudson had an interception. Tony Brackens and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks.

AFC Wild Card uniforms

AFC Divisional: New York Jets at Giants Stadium on January 10, 1999
Final score: Jaguars 24 – Jets 34
Attendance: 78,817

Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 12 out of 31 attempted passes for 156 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 86 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 104 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 39.33 yards in kickoff returns and 5.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted three times for 111 yards, and Mike Hollis made the field goal attempt. Donovin Darius had an interception. Kevin Hardy and Eric Curry recorded sacks.

AFC Divisional uniforms

Please share your memories from the 1998 season with us in the comments.