The Jacksonville Jaguars don't have a very extensive history, as they entered the NFL in 1995 and have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance. However, that does not mean they haven't had some terrific players walk through their doors.
Sure, the Jaguars have made just one playoff appearance since 2008, and for much of that time, they have been somewhat of a laughing stock. But early on, Jacksonville was pretty good, and throughout the Jaguars' history, they've had some pretty fine defensive players in particular.
So, here are the five best Jaguars players you may not typically recall:
5. Tony Brackens, Defensive End
Tony Brackens entered the NFL in 1996 and spent his entire eight-year career with the Jaguars, establishing himself as Jacksonville's top pass rusher during his prime.
Brackens only made one Pro Bowl, which came in 1999 when he racked up 55 tackles, 12 sacks, a couple of interceptions and a hefty eight forced fumbles, but he was a rather consistent force for the Jags throughout his NFL tenure.
The University of Texas product became the master of the strip sack, posting four seasons of five forced fumbles or more. Overall, Brackens totaled 23 forced fumbles as well as 13 fumble recoveries during his time with the Jaguars, some pretty impressive numbers.
No, Brackens wasn't Michael Strahan or Jason Taylor, but he certainly made a rather significant impact on Jacksonville in the early days of the franchise.
4. Kevin Hardy, Linebacker
The Jaguars took Kevin Hardy with the second overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft, and right off the bat, the University of Illinois alum demonstrated his superb talent, registering 86 tackles and 5.5 sacks during his rookie campaign.
After a slow sophomore year, Hardy bounced back with 112 tackles in 1998, and then, in 1999, he rattled off 96 tackles and 10.5 sacks en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Hardy never quite matched his 1999 production from that point moving forward, but he remained a stable presence on Jacksonville's defense through 2001.
The Evansville, Il. product then spent one year with the Dallas Cowboys before spending his last couple of NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Like Brackens, Hardy was a major piece of that '99 Jags squad that went 14-2 and made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
In six years with the Jaguars, Hardy accumulated 28.5 sacks and five interceptions.
3. Keenan McCardell, Wide Receiver
Jimmy Smith may have garnered most of the attention and accolades in the '90s and early 2000s, but Keenan McCardell provided Mark Brunell with a terrific No. 2 receiver.
As a matter of fact, McCardell—who spent six seasons with the Jaguars between 1996 and 2001—finished with over 1,000 yards four times during his time in Jacksonville, topping out at 1,207 yards in 2000. He made one Pro Bowl with the Jags.
McCardell then moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl in his first season with the club and then made his second trip to the Pro Bowl in 2003.
However, McCardell's best years came with the Jaguars. That was also where he spent the bulk of his lengthy 16-year NFL career. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins.
2. Carnell Lake, Safety
Pittsburgh Steelers fans remember Carnell Lake fondly.
From 1989 through 1998, Lake was part of a dynamite Steelers secondary that also included Hall-of-Fame cornerback Rod Woodson (Woodson later moved to safety with the Baltimore Ravens). During that time, Lake made four Pro Bowl appearances and earned a First-Team All-Pro selection, playing both cornerback and safety.
Then, in 1999, Lake joined the Jaguars, becoming a member of the aforementioned fantastic defense that paved the way to the most successful campaign in franchise history.
Lake only spent one season in Jacksonville, but that year, he tallied 58 tackles, 3.5 sacks and six passes defended, earning himself his fifth trip to the Pro Bowl.
Sure, Lake is more known for his spectacular run in Pittsburgh, but he definitely left his mark on the Jags in '99.
1. Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle
That brings us to one of the sadder stories in recent NFL history: Tony Boselli.
Boselli entered the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick of the Jaguars in their inaugural season in 1995. It didn't take long for the University of Southern California product to stamp his name among the best offensive linemen in football, as he made the Pro Bowl as soon as his second season.
That began a string of five consecutive Pro Bowl selections for Boselli between 1996 and 2000, and the superstar notched First-Team All-Pro honors four times in the process.
In a league that also included dominant offensive tackles such as Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden, Boselli appeared to be well on his way to the Hall of Fame.
However, injuries derailed Boselli's career, beginning with a torn ACL in January 2000. He was able to play all of the ensuing 2000 campaign, but he appeared in just three contests in 2001.
With the Houston Texans joining the NFL in 2002, the Jaguars left Boselli unprotected in the expansion draft, and the Texans took him with their first pick. However, injuries prevented Boselli from ever playing in a game for Houston.
He retired shortly thereafter, prematurely ending what should have been a legendary NFL career.
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