Respect in the NFL isn’t handed out—it’s earned, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are starting to take theirs. On Monday night, something rare happened in Jacksonville: the Jaguars walked away victorious in a nationally televised game, marking their first Monday Night Football win since 2011. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a statement about how long this team has been waiting for another chance to shine in the NFL spotlight. Over the past decade, Jacksonville’s Monday night appearances have been few and far between, and the lack of national exposure often mirrored the perception that they weren’t part of the league’s upper echelon. But that narrative is beginning to shift, and head coach Liam Coen knows it.
When asked whether defeating the Chiefs in such a high-profile matchup meant something more—a so-called “statement game”—Coen didn’t hesitate. He acknowledged the importance of playing on primetime, calling it the kind of opportunity every team wants. “You dream about performing under the bright lights,” he explained. “As an organization and as individuals, we crave those moments to showcase who we are.” But here’s the part most fans might miss: Coen wasn’t celebrating external validation. In his eyes, respect isn’t something handed to a team after one big win—it’s something they must claim for themselves.
“We’re not overly concerned with how the rest of the league views us,” Coen said. “Of course, we want respect—but that’s ours to take.” He spoke about the deeper pride that comes from doing your job the right way, whether you’re a player, a coach, or part of the staff. According to Coen, those hard-earned wins do more than fill up a scoreboard—they build confidence that spills into every part of life. “When you win games like that,” he continued, “you walk and talk differently. You carry yourself with pride—in how you lead, how you parent, how you live.” That sense of self-belief, he added, is growing inside the Jaguars’ locker room. There’s still plenty to fix, he admitted, but one thing’s for sure: confidence is no longer missing in Jacksonville.
And this is the part most people overlook—winning doesn’t just boost morale; it changes how the league treats you. Every victory brings another primetime opportunity, more conversation in national sports circles, and greater credibility among fans and pundits. The Jaguars, now sitting at 4-1, are beginning to carve out a name that demands attention. Keep this up, and it won’t just be another blip on the schedule—it’ll be a full-blown shift in how Jacksonville is perceived across the NFL.
But here’s the big question: do the Jaguars really have what it takes to sustain this newfound respect, or is this just another fleeting moment in the spotlight? Drop your thoughts below—has Liam Coen’s team finally turned the corner, or does the league still need more proof before giving Jacksonville their due?
