2006 Jacksonville Jaguars season

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2006 Jacksonville Jaguars season

The 2006 season was the Jaguars’ 12th in the NFL and their fourth under head coach Jack Del Rio. They hoped to repeat their 12–4 record from 2005 but finished 8–8, third in the AFC South, and missed the playoffs. This was the first year without star wide receiver Jimmy Smith, who retired in the offseason.

Front office and home: Owner Wayne Weaver, general manager James Harris, head coach Jack Del Rio, offensive coordinator Carl Smith, and defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Home games were played at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

Season recap: The Jaguars started 8–5 but lost their final three games, which kept them out of the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

Memorable game: In a standout home win over the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville defeated the Colts 44–17. The team totaled 375 rushing yards, the second-most in a game since the AFL–NFL merger. Maurice Jones-Drew had a franchise-record 302 all-purpose yards (166 rushing with two rushing touchdowns, 15 receiving, and 121 kickoff return yards with a return TD). Fred Taylor added 131 rushing yards and a TD, and Alvin Pearman had 71 rushing yards with a TD. The defense limited the Colts to 66 yards and 3 first downs in the first half, but Jacksonville also had several errors. Earlier in the season in Indianapolis, the Jaguars lost 21–14 as Peyton Manning led a Colts comeback.

Season awards: Defensive tackle John Henderson earned first-team All-Pro honors, and Rashean Mathis was selected to the Pro Bowl.