About 1,600 members of the Jacksonville business community gathered at the Osborn Center on Wednesday to hear from the Jacksonville Jaguars players, coaches, staff and management at the JAXUSA Partnership Kickoff Luncheon.
“The Jaguars are our team. They are a part of our community, part of our culture and our identity. The Jaguars distinguished Jacksonville by putting us in the elite group of NFL cities. They open doors to business and growth opportunities,” said Mayor Alvin Brown.
“I commend (Jaguars owner) Shad (Khan) for becoming personally engaged in our efforts to attract business and help local entrepreneurs succeed. Shad and his team have made great decisions to focus on getting more people to the city at a time when NFL cities could opt to do less,” said Brown.
One of those efforts was recently announced. The NFL approved the Jaguars to play four games over the next four years in London.
“Shad, we are behind you 100 percent and we are excited about what you are doing here in Jacksonville,” said Brown.
Khan said he appreciated the support from the mayor and the crowd and he predicted great things for the Jaguars.
Three Jaguars players also spoke at the luncheon and all talked about a “nastiness” effort to “make something special happen here in Jacksonville.”
“This year in the offensive line room we made a decision that we are going to be the nastiest, most violent and dominant offensive line in the NFL,” said Eben Britton.
Former players who are part of the Jaguars Ambassadors also attended. Former Jaguars kicker Bryan Barker talked about the future of the ambassadors program.
“We represent the Jaguars on game days at the field and out in the community, but I’d like to see the program address a growing problem for NFL athletes. It’s not concussions, it’s players transitioning away from that locker room atmosphere, maybe being on their own for the first time in their lives away from football,” said Barker.
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