As the buzz of the 2024 Super Bowl filled the air in Las Vegas, Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, found himself caught in a mix of emotions. The trip to the vibrant city was overshadowed by the disappointment of his team's recent struggles, which ultimately led to them missing the playoffs.
Just a month ago, in late November, the Jaguars were sitting comfortably at the top of the AFC South with an impressive 8-3 record. However, their fortunes took a sharp turn as they faced four consecutive losses, followed by a final defeat against the Tennessee Titans on January 7th, abruptly ending their season earlier than anticipated.
Reflecting on this sudden downfall, Lawrence, speaking on behalf of his Gatorade partnership, admitted, 'When the games matter the most, we didn't play our best, when the year before we were pretty good at that.' The Jaguars' Week 9 bye week provided them with a much-needed break and a sense of optimism, but come December, their performance began to crumble.
'The whole season we were really good until about halfway through the year, and then we struggled,' Lawrence said, acknowledging the team's difficulties. 'All those things we are thinking about now, and especially the way the season ended, there's a sense of urgency for us, and we know we need to get better, and I think we have the right people to do that.'
Despite the disappointment of the past season, Lawrence finds value in the lessons learned and remains hopeful for the future. 'As a team, it opened our eyes a little bit on the things we need to improve on. We're excited to get back to work,' he expressed. Highlighting the importance of constant progress, he added, 'I think that's the biggest thing, is to get back to work in OTAs [offseason workouts] and build a championship team one day at a time. It doesn't come overnight.'
Attending the Super Bowl in Las Vegas not as a participant but as a spectator has only intensified Lawrence's desire to be one of those final two teams competing for the Lombardi trophy next year. 'I wish I was playing,' he confessed. 'That's why we play, is to win the Super Bowl. It's where everybody wants to be, and there's only one team that's happy at the end of the year. It just makes you want to work even harder to get that opportunity.'
During his time in Las Vegas, Lawrence had the chance to enjoy some leisure activities mixed in with the Super Bowl festivities. One notable experience was spending time at Gatorade's activation center, where people could customize water bottles as part of Gatorade's new Gatorade ID membership platform. Lawrence described it as 'pretty sweet,' emphasizing the value of hydration in athletics.
As an added bonus, Lawrence reunited with old friends and teammates who were also present in the desert for the game. The opportunity to catch up with them provided a sense of familiarity and camaraderie that he cherished. Moreover, Lawrence appreciated being able to witness all the exciting events leading up to the first-ever Super Bowl on the Strip. 'It's an awesome city for a Super Bowl,' he exclaimed. 'It's crazy, but it's fun.'
Nevertheless, when it came time to watch the game itself, Lawrence opted to do so from the comfort of his Jacksonville home. Alongside his wife Marissa and their dogs, he preferred the relaxed setting of the couch over witnessing two other teams battle it out on the field.
As Lawrence returns to Jacksonville, he carries with him the disappointment of this past season, but also the determination and motivation to improve. The Super Bowl experience has further fueled his hunger for success and a deep desire to lead his team to the ultimate victory. With hard work, dedication, and the lessons learned from their setbacks, Lawrence believes the Jaguars have what it takes to become a championship team.
