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.

Featured image for “SPORTS | What will the Jaguars do next after 4-13 season?”
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair forearmed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 1, 2024, ending Lawrence's season. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 5, 2025

SPORTS | What will the Jaguars do next after 4-13 season?

After concluding the season with a 26-23 overtime loss to the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday, the Jaguars finished the…

By Cole Pepper

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) scores a touchdown as he gets past the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, including cornerback Tyson Campbell (3), during the second half of the game on Dec. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. | AP Photo/John Locher
December 22, 2024

SPORTS | Thomas stars as Jaguars stumble to another loss

With the loss, and the other results around the NFL, the Jaguars are now in line to hold the third…

By Cole Pepper

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Brian Thomas Jr. makes his second touchdown catch during the fourth quarter in a loss to the New York Jets. The Jaguars gave away a fourth quarter lead en route to a 32-25 loss to fall to 3-11 on the season on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 15, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars lose to Jets in entertaining game

If the Jaguars had played the kind of game they did on Sunday back in September, it might have been…

By Cole Pepper

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby scores a touchdown during the game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Nashville. | AP Photo, Stew Milne
December 8, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars trudge to win in Nashville

A win, yes, but by a poor team playing uninspiring football to end a season that isn’t going anywhere.…

By Cole Pepper

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A brawl breaks out after Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair forearmed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence with 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Al-Shaair was ejected on the hit that concussed Lawrence. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 1, 2024

SPORTS | More of the same as Jaguars drop fifth straight game

A concussion. A fight. A fifth straight loss. And the possible end of Trevor Lawrence’s season. Welcome to December, Jaguars…

By Cole Pepper

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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

Featured image for “SPORTS | What we learned from the Jaguars’ preseason”
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

Featured image for “SPORTS | What we learned from the Jaguars’ win over the Buccaneers”
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

Featured image for “SPORTS | Jaguars saying all the right things as training camp enters second week”
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

Featured image for “SPORTS | Did the Jaguars overpay Trevor Lawrence?”
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

Cole Pepper

Cole Pepper