Calais Campbell played the first nine seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he was twice a Pro Bowl Selection. He signed with the Jaguars at the age of 31, so it was not expected that he would exceed what he did in the desert, but that was precisely what he accomplished in Florida.

The Jaguars chose Marcus Stroud of the University of Georgia with their 13^th overall pick in 2001, and he learned his craft coming off the bench in his rookie year.  That would not be the case in 2002 as he became a starting Defensive Tackle (usually on the left side), and from 2002 to 2007, he never appeared in a game that he didn't start in.

From a local high school standout at Englewood to an FCS consensus All-American at Bethune-Cookman, Rashean Mathis didn't have to leave the 904 area code to build a legend. Drafted 39th overall in 2003, the Jacksonville native brought rare length, sub-4.4 speed, and elite ball-hawking instincts to his hometown secondary, turning a gamble on an FCS powerhouse prospect into a foundational decade for the Jaguars' defense.

Mathis endured an up-and-down rookie campaign while bouncing between free safety and cornerback, but once he settled permanently into the left cornerback spot, his career took off. Standing 6-foot-1 with long arms and elite closing speed, he weaponized his background as a college interception machine to bait quarterbacks into dangerous throws. He possessed phenomenal route-recognition skills, jumping slants and boundary routes with ruthless efficiency to turn turnover opportunities into instant points for Jack Del Rio’s defense.

His peak came in 2006. Mathis completely locked down his side of the field, snatching a career-high eight interceptions—tied for the league lead—to earn First-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. Opposing offensive coordinators routinely abandoned their game plans against his boundary, solidifying Mathis as one of the game's most dangerous opportunistic corners.

Beyond his regular-season brilliance, Mathis produced legendary postseason moments for the franchise. His iconic two-interception performance against Ben Roethlisberger in the 2007 AFC Wild Card game—including a game-changing 63-yard pick-six—propelled Jacksonville to a thrilling playoff victory over Pittsburgh, cementing his status as a big-game hunter. 

After a decade of stellar service in Duval County, Mathis spent his final three seasons in Detroit before returning home to sign a ceremonial contract and retire where it all began. With the Jaguars, he accumulated 30 interceptions, 520 combined tackles, 99 pass deflections, and three defensive touchdowns. He entered the Pride of the Jaguars in 2021.

After grinding through four development seasons in Cleveland under Bill Belichick—culminating in a 56-catch campaign in 1995—Keenan McCardell hit free agency in 1996 and found his ideal football home. Landing in Northeast Florida on a three-year deal, he instantly became the missing piece for Tom Coughlin’s high-octane offense, transforming the young Jaguars into an immediate contender.

Operating as the tactical, possession-oriented counterpart to Jimmy Smith’s explosive deep game, McCardell brought elite route discipline and fearless toughness over the middle. He excelled at converting third downs, using crisp footwork and strong hands to haul in throws in heavy traffic. Opposite "Silk Lightning" Smith, McCardell earned the nickname "Velvet Thunder" for his ability to slice through secondary schemes and punishment-heavy coverage areas without flinching.

McCardell made an immediate impact during his inaugural 1996 season in Jacksonville, catching 85 passes for 1,129 yards to earn his first career Pro Bowl selection and propel the franchise to the AFC Championship Game. He proved remarkably consistent over the next five years, topping the 1,100-yard mark three more times (1997, 2000, 2001) and ranking among the top ten in league receiving yards during each of those stellar campaigns.

His reliability under pressure provided Mark Brunell with a trusted safety valve on every drive, ensuring Jacksonville boasted the most feared wideout tandem of the late 1990s. Though salary cap constraints forced the Jaguars to release McCardell after the 2001 season, he went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII with Tampa Bay—catching two touchdowns in the big game—and reached another Pro Bowl in San Diego.

With Jacksonville, he compiled 499 receptions, 6,393 receiving yards, and 30 receiving touchdowns.