The Jacksonville Jaguars have a loyal fan base — they wouldn’t have survived for nearly 30 years as an expansion franchise if that weren’t the case, especially considering just how many lean years the team has endured. After all, the Jaguars have had just nine winning seasons in 28 years.
Jacksonville did enjoy their first winning campaign in five years last season, rallying to a 9-8 finish and a playoff berth. They look well-positioned to repeat that feat in 2023 and are sporting a 4-2 record as the season nears its midway point. Jacksonville’s next test comes on the road with tonight’s Thursday road trip to the 3-3 New Orleans Saints.
What sort of fan contingent from Jacksonville turns out in New Orleans remains to be seen, but given that the Superdome is something of a destination for NFL fans and the fact that it is just a quick trip down the coast, it seems safe to say that some members of “Duval Country” will make the trek.
Which brings us to the question posed in the headline — why do Jags fans say, “Duval!” and what does it mean?
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How Did the Jacksonville Jaguars Saying ‘Duval’ Get Started?
Those of you who recall the improbable playoff run that QB Blake Bortles and the Jaguars’ stifling “Sacksonville” defense went on back in 2017 might recall the team’s rallying cry of “DUUUVAL!”
It was around that time that this fan-beloved chant started to gain some national recognition — and so did the fan base. The below tweets featuring a dust-up between Jags fan and then-Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson illustrate why.
This Day In Jaguars History™️!
December 10, 2017:
Duval was not about to be Ron Artest’d. pic.twitter.com/2kODCJbmbp
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) December 10, 2020
#Jaguars vs. #Seahawks in 2017 gave us one of the greatest lines ever:
“That’s Duval. It ain’t no gettin’ up in no stands, thinkin’ you gon Ron Artest us.” 😂#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/OMgCpryFGs
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) October 27, 2021
The origins of the chant, though, can be traced back 10 years earlier, according to ESPN. In that piece, John Caputo, president of the Bold City Brigade fan club, recalls mid-2000s defensive leaders Mike Peterson and Paul Spicer, shouting their war cry and encouraging home fans to get loud in a video played on the team’s scoreboard.
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That’s the origin behind the chant; the explanation behind it is really quite simple.
It’s tied almost entirely to geography. Jacksonville is housed primarily within Duval County. It’s a two-syllable word with an easy-to-elongate vowel smack-dab in the center of it, which makes it just right for a good crowd chant.
Amusingly enough, then-rookie Bortles mistook the chant for boos during the 2014 season due to that elongated “U” sound. Of course, as he and the team began to enjoy some success, it didn’t take long for him to catch on. The same goes for the NFL-viewing public at large.
It helps that the team has leaned into the rallying cry since it began to garner some national attention.
Beginning in 2018, they brought back notable alumni to lead the crowd in a game-opening “DUUUVAL!” chant before every home game. That includes former Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Henderson for last year’s AFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The perfect man for the first #DUUUVAL of the night! Big John Henderson getting this place fired up! @ESPN690Jax pic.twitter.com/5xBJab52Bm
— Kasey Kuhrts (@kkuhrts) January 15, 2023
The Jaguars are on the road tonight, but they’re looking to host more home playoff games soon — like this January soon. Don’t be surprised if, when the dust settles, they Du(Val) just that.