Why the Jacksonville Jaguars Have Become London’s NFL Team

For most NFL franchises, a trip to London remains an occasional departure from the usual regular-season schedule. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, it has become an established part of the identity of the franchise.

Jacksonville first crossed the Atlantic for a regular-season game in 2013 and have continued to return to the capital ever since, missing only the 2020 season when the NFL’s international games were cancelled. No franchise has played more regular-season games in London, while Wembley Stadium has increasingly become regarded by the Jaguars as their second home.

That connection will be strengthened further in 2026 when Jacksonville spend two consecutive weekends in the capital. The Jaguars face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 11th October before meeting AFC South rivals the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 18th October. Both fixtures are designated Jacksonville home games.

More than a decade after the relationship began, why have the Jaguars become so closely associated with NFL London?

Jacksonville committed to London before any other NFL franchise

The relationship began with a major decision in 2012.

Jacksonville became the first NFL franchise to commit to playing multiple regular-season games in London when owner Shad Khan agreed for the Jaguars to stage one home fixture at Wembley in each season between 2013 and 2016. The agreement was subsequently extended as the franchise continued to build its presence in Britain.

Their first London appearance came against the San Francisco 49ers on 27th October 2013. The result, a 42-10 defeat for Jacksonville, was secondary to the wider project being established around the game.

The Jaguars had opened a UK office and began developing a fanbase away from Florida, with players, coaches and other representatives regularly taking part in events around London. What initially looked like an experiment quickly became a long-term part of the franchise’s strategy.

While other teams have subsequently developed their own international programmes, the Jaguars established a permanent presence in the UK years before regular London appearances became commonplace across the league.

Wembley has become Jacksonville’s home away from home

One stadium in particular has become synonymous with the Jaguars’ relationship with Britain.

Jacksonville have played at Wembley more regularly than any other NFL team. The Jaguars’ meeting with the Texans on 18th October will be their 12th game at the stadium, while they have also made three appearances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the 2026 season.

There have been several memorable moments along the way.

Jacksonville recorded their first London victory when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 34-31 in 2015 before beating the Indianapolis Colts at Wembley the following season. Their 2021 meeting with the Miami Dolphins produced another landmark moment, with a last-second field goal securing a 23-20 victory and Trevor Lawrence’s first NFL win.

The relationship moved into another phase in 2023 when Jacksonville became the first NFL team to play consecutive games in London during the same regular season. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 23-7 at Wembley before beating the Buffalo Bills 25-20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seven days later.

The Jaguars repeated the two-game trip in 2024 and will now do so for a third time in 2026.

The relationship extends far beyond matchday

Jacksonville’s claim to being London’s most established NFL franchise is not based solely on the number of games they have played.

The organisation operates in Britain throughout the year and has invested in building a lasting connection with supporters, rather than arriving for one week each autumn before returning to the United States.

The Jaguars hold UK marketing rights through the NFL’s Global Markets Program, allowing the franchise to develop its brand, commercial partnerships and supporter engagement within Britain. They have also built the Union Jax fan community and run grassroots initiatives designed to introduce younger audiences to American football.

The JagTag programme has become a significant part of that work. By the end of 2024, the flag football initiative had reached more than 100,000 young people, reflecting the scale of Jacksonville’s activity away from its annual NFL fixture.

That year-round presence helps explain why Jaguars jerseys and the distinctive “DUUUVAL” chant have become such familiar sights and sounds during NFL London weekends.

A new generation of Jaguars has strengthened the connection

Jacksonville’s London story has also coincided with major changes on the field.

Trevor Lawrence has been the face of the franchise since being selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. His first NFL victory came in London later that year, providing an early connection between the quarterback and the Jaguars’ UK supporters.

The franchise entered another important period under Head Coach Liam Coen in 2025. Jacksonville finished the regular season 13-4, winning the AFC South after closing the campaign with eight consecutive victories.

They have begun their title defence with two victories from their opening three games in 2026. Jacksonville beat the Cleveland Browns 34-10, suffered a 20-13 defeat against the Denver Broncos and responded emphatically by beating defending AFC champions the New England Patriots 35-6.

Lawrence has thrown seven touchdown passes through those opening three fixtures, while Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr, Travis Hunter and running back Bhayshul Tuten are among the players giving the Jaguars a young core around their quarterback.

Their arrival in London this year therefore comes with Jacksonville established as the reigning AFC South champions rather than simply one of the NFL’s regular international visitors.

Two London games await Jacksonville in 2026

Before travelling to Britain, Jacksonville visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday 4th October. Attention will then turn towards one of the most unusual stretches on any NFL team’s schedule.

The Philadelphia Eagles provide the opposition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 11th October. Seven days later, the Jaguars return to familiar surroundings at Wembley to face divisional rivals the Houston Texans.

The two fixtures also represent different sides of Jacksonville’s London relationship.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become the modern home of the NFL in Britain, complete with facilities specifically designed for American football. Wembley, meanwhile, is the venue most closely linked with the Jaguars themselves after more than a decade of regular appearances beneath the famous arch.

Playing at both venues in consecutive weeks underlines just how firmly Jacksonville have become embedded in the NFL’s London programme.

Why the Jaguars’ London connection matters

The NFL’s international ambitions are now considerably larger than they were when Jacksonville first arrived in 2013.

London remains a central part of that strategy, but regular-season games are also being staged across a growing number of countries and continents. The 2026 international schedule features a record nine games across seven countries.

Against that backdrop, Jacksonville’s relationship with the UK stands out because of its longevity.

What began as a four-year agreement has developed into more than a decade of games, supporter events, grassroots programmes and year-round activity. The Jaguars may remain based firmly in Florida, but no NFL franchise has developed a longer-running relationship with London.

Two more home games in the capital this October will add another chapter.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL London hospitality with Eventmasters

The Jacksonville Jaguars will feature in two of the three NFL London fixtures taking place in 2026, with hospitality available through Eventmasters for both games.

Jacksonville first face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 11th October before taking on the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 18th October.

Official NFL London hospitality combines premium match seating with access to hospitality facilities, offering an enhanced way to experience the return of one of London’s most familiar NFL franchises.

Explore Eventmasters’ hospitality options for Philadelphia Eagles v Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the Jaguars’ 2026 London double-header.

Jacksonville Jaguars London FAQs

Why do the Jacksonville Jaguars play in London so often?

Jacksonville became the first NFL franchise to make a multi-year commitment to regular-season games in London in 2012. They began playing annually at Wembley in 2013 and have continued to maintain a long-term presence in the UK.

How many times have the Jacksonville Jaguars played in London?

The Jaguars had played 14 regular-season games in London by the end of the 2025 season, more than any other NFL franchise. Their two games in 2026 will take that total to 16.

Who are the Jacksonville Jaguars playing in London in 2026?

Jacksonville face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 11th October before playing the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 18th October.

Do the Jacksonville Jaguars play at Wembley every year?

Wembley has traditionally hosted Jacksonville’s designated London home game. The Jaguars have also played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including during their two-game London trips in 2023 and 2024 and again in 2026.

Are the Jacksonville Jaguars moving to London?

The Jaguars remain a Jacksonville-based NFL franchise. Their extensive London programme has been developed alongside their presence in Florida, and the organisation has repeatedly framed its international activity as a way to grow the franchise rather than as a relocation programme.

Can I get Jacksonville Jaguars hospitality in London?

Yes. Eventmasters offers NFL London hospitality, with Jacksonville featuring against both the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium in October 2026.