PerspectivesCole Pepper Jacksonville Today Contributor

Cole Pepper has covered sports in Jacksonville since 1996, most recently for News4Jax. He is currently broadcast director for Sporting Club Jacksonville and has called play-by-play for a number of teams, including the Suns, Tomcats, Jacksonville University, Sharks and The Bolles School football. He also served as the studio host for the Jaguars Radio Network.

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson after the game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. | AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
November 17, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars suffer worst loss in franchise history

Shad Khan has been criticized for not feeling the concerns of Jaguars fans. If he doesn’t decide to make a…

By Cole Pepper

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Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard heads off the field after a defensive stop during the fourth quarter of a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 10, 2024

SPORTS | Jags struggle offensively against Minnesota, fall to 2-8

Any thought that Lawrence was the cause of the Jaguars’ offensive struggles should be put to bed.…

By Cole Pepper

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during the second half of the game on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia. | AP Photo/Matt Slocum
November 3, 2024

SPORTS | Bad start, bad finish. Jaguars fall to Eagles

This is almost certain to be the end of the current regime.…

By Cole Pepper

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The Green Bay Packers celebrate after former Jaguar Brandon McManus converted a short field goal at the buzzer to lift Green Bay to victory on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 27, 2024

SPORTS | Jags drop to 2-6 with loss to Green Bay Packers

As has happened so often this season, the Jaguars could not close the deal.…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates with Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones (15) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
October 20, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars run to second win of season

The win avoided the possibility of big leadership changes for the Jaguars for another week.…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson pauses during a press conference after an NFL football game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears in London, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
October 13, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars mauled in London

In what could have been the most important game of the season, the Jaguars showed why they are more likely…

By Cole Pepper

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A Jacksonville Jaguars fan cheers during the second half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Jacksonville. | AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
October 6, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars earn first win of season in remarkable fashion

There are a lot of “ifs,” but the win on Sunday against the Colts keeps hope of a significant season…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Houston. | AP Photo/Maria Lysaker
September 29, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars drop 4th straight game, this time in final seconds

Better, but still not good enough. The Jaguars played their best quarter of football since halftime of the season opener…

By Cole Pepper

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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence lunges for yardage under Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams (42) on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. | AP Photo/Adrian Kraus
September 23, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars fall to 0-3 in worst performance of Doug Pederson’s tenure

This is the kind of season that can cost a head coach his job. Make no mistake, the seat under…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) leaps over Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) on a run during the second half the game on Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville | AP Photo, Phelan M. Ebenhack
September 15, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars sputter to second straight loss to start season

The Jaguars started the season with an impressive first half in Miami. The next three halves have looked like a…

By Cole Pepper

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Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) grabs Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) as he fumbles the ball during the second half of the game on Sept. 8, 2024, at Miami. | AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
September 8, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars squander second-half lead, lose opener in Miami

The takeaway from the Jags’ loss to the Dolphins: There is much to be fixed as the Jaguars look ahead…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) in the middle with the offense during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Atlanta. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons, 31-0. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
August 25, 2024

SPORTS | What we learned from the Jaguars’ preseason

Predictions based on the preseason work by the Jaguars include the biggest area of concern for the season: the offensive…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks up at a video screen during the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Jacksonville. The Jaguars defeated the Buccaneers, 20-7. | AP Photo/Gary McCullough
August 18, 2024

SPORTS | What we learned from the Jaguars’ win over the Buccaneers

The Jaguars’ preseason record is now 2-0. Here’s what we learned from the Jaguars’ 20-7 victory over the Tampa Bay…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4). The Jaguars defeated the Chiefs 26-13. | AP Photo/Gary McCullough
August 11, 2024

SPORTS | What we learned from the Jaguars’ preseason opening win

If the Jaguars are going to return to the playoffs, they’ll need to play better than they did in the…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun (23) celebrates a fourth down stop during the Dec. 31, 2023, win over the Carolina Panthers. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 5, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars defense shining as preseason opener approaches

When new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen was hired, he promised to instill an attacking defensive approach. So far, he…

By Cole Pepper

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Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32), seen here in 2022, is now the highest-paid cornerback to never make the Pro Bowl. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 29, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars saying all the right things as training camp enters second week

Unlike last year, when the Jaguars were the hunted, this year, they can return to the mentality of being the…

By Cole Pepper

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Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (41) produced two sacks in the first half of a Dec. 31, 2023, game against the Carolina Panthers to set the Jaguars’ single-season franchise record for sacks with 15.5. Roy Robertson-Harris (95) helped Allen celebrate the second of his three sacks. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 22, 2024

SPORTS | 5 biggest questions for the Jaguars’ first week of training camp

Here are five key questions to be answered in the first week of Doug Pederson’s third camp as the head…

By Cole Pepper

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Trevor Lawrence celebrates a Jaguars touchdown Oct. 15, 2023, against the Indianapolis Colts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 25, 2024

SPORTS | Can the Jaguars return to the playoffs?

The No. 1 question for the Jaguars? Can they regain the form they showed late in 2022 and early in…

By Cole Pepper

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Trevor Lawrence during an Oct. 23, 2023, loss against the New York Giants. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 17, 2024

SPORTS | Did the Jaguars overpay Trevor Lawrence?

When the news of Trevor Lawrence’s massive new contract with the Jaguars came out, it sent shockwaves through the NFL.…

By Cole Pepper

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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 25 of 30 passes during the team's home opener in 2022. The Jaguars shut out the Indianapolis Colts 24-0, the team's first shutout since a win over the Colts on Dec. 13, 2018. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 28, 2024

SPORTS | Trevor Lawrence’s big deal is coming

At some point before the 2024 season kicks off, the Jaguars have to sign Trevor Lawrence to a new deal.…

By Cole Pepper

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May 19, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars get 2 in prime time with challenging schedule ahead

My predictions for every game on the 2024 Jacksonville Jaguars schedule, ending in a 10-7 record and wild card playoff…

By Cole Pepper

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The Jaguars drafted LSU's Maason Smith, a defensive tackle, seen here at the NFL scouting combine in February. | (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
April 28, 2024

SPORTS | Did Jaguars get better in the draft?

The Jaguars’ draft looks good on one hand, but further inspection brings up some key questions.…

By Cole Pepper

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Former Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. is tackled by Indianapolis Colts safety Khari Willis during a 2022 home game. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 22, 2024

SPORTS | Zeroing in on the Jaguars’ draft targets

Will there be a man-to-man cornerback available to the Jaguars if they stay at 17 to make their first-round selection?…

By Cole Pepper

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San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrates a hit on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, 2024 | AP Photo/Ashley Landis
March 24, 2024

SPORTS | More work left for Jaguars after free agency haul

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed eight veterans from other teams during free agency, so here are their needs heading into the…

By Cole Pepper

Cole Pepper

Cole Pepper