Gov. Ron DeSantis is enthusiastic about the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars and their chances in the playoffs this weekend and potentially beyond.
Ahead of their tilt Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, DeSantis said the “very dangerous” team could go far this year.
“I think the Jags are playing as good as anyone. It’s been really exciting to see that turnaround. I know people up here are going to be very excited to see what happens in the playoffs,” DeSantis said outside an immigration prison in Baker County.
“I wouldn’t want to have to play them if I were one of these other teams. I think they’re very dangerous.”
The 13-4 Jaguars are the No. 3 seed this year, behind the second-seeded New England Patriots and the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Jacksonville did not play New England during the regular season, but dominated Denver during a game at Mile High Stadium.
DeSantis has been public about his sports fandom since becoming Governor, and has often found ways to discuss the Jaguars along the way, including telling a crowd in Iowa in 2024 that the team was “getting their butts kicked” in a season finale game against Tennessee.
He also has told the story of being in attendance at Jacksonville’s last home playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which featured a miracle comeback by Jacksonville, though he said at one point he stuck around for the whole game and at another point that he left at halftime because “the Jags were getting killed.”
