Can Jacksonville’s Pro Bowl QB Be an MVP Candidate in 2026
After being named to the Pro Bowl in 2022, Jacksonville Jaguars veteran quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been hailed as an elite quarterback who has yet to reach his full potential. He's shown flashes of greatness, such as the second half of the 2022 Wild Card playoff game versus the Los Angeles Chargers, where the 26-year-old threw four touchdown passes en route to one of the largest comeback victories in NFL history. However, the Clemson product has struggled as well, whether it was the four interceptions in that same postseason game or injury concerns with the season-ending concussion in 2024. Entering 2026, Lawrence needs to decide whether he wants to prove the doubters right or wrong for good.
In 2025, the new addition of head coach Liam Coen transcended the veteran quarterback’s passing game. Despite a slow start to the campaign, with Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski putting more emphasis on the running game, Lawrence and his plethora of weapons turned on the gas for the second half of the season. In the last eight games, Jacksonville went 8-0, while the Knoxville native completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,009 yards with 19 touchdowns to only five interceptions. The 26-year-old arguably had the best run of any quarterback in the league during that eight-game stretch, leading his team on fire into the playoffs. Although the team would lose in the Wild Card to the Buffalo Bills, the veteran signal-caller put his name back on the radar of many analysts around the league.
Lawrence has received MVP votes twice in his NFL career, finishing seventh in 2022 and fifth in 2025. Despite not having the same statistical numbers or impact as either MVP winner, those being Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford, respectively, the 26-year-old still had fantastic seasons. To even receive MVP votes is an honor, and to receive votes when you aren’t even close to your perceived potential is a great sign for the sixth-year veteran. Jacksonville’s star quarterback is only getting better with time, becoming more of a locker room leader with every game under his belt. The experience has helped him grow into a professional, and the league needs to watch out because Lawrence is nowhere close to being done. If anything, it’s just beginning.
