The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the most dominant teams in the NFL in the late 1990s because of Mark Brunell. The former Washington Husky immediately turned them into a contender as soon as he landed with them via trade in 1995.
But then, the 2000s came, and Brunell was no longer in the Jags' long-term plans. They thought that Byron Leftwich would be a fine replacement, but he came crashing down. Not all was lost, though. A scrappy quarterback came out of nowhere and gave Jacksonville a glimmer of hope in the second half of the decade.
A first-round pick in 2003, Leftwich became the starter at the midpoint of his rookie campaign. Brunell was traded to the Washington Commanders the following year. Unfortunately, the Jags' succession plan flopped, and their young quarterback struggled. By 2006, Leftwich had been benched in favor of David Garrard, who didn't look back once he was pressed into action.
Garrard, a fourth-round pick in 2002, lurked on the depth chart waiting for his chance, and he got it in 2006. He turned out to be the quarterback Jacksonville thought Leftwich would be, putting the team on his back and making a surprise playoff appearance in 2007.
While Garrard only had one winning season with the Jags up until his release, he wasn't the reason they couldn't sniff the playoffs in the late 2000s. Heck, he was even selected for the Pro Bowl in 2009. But despite his solid place, Jacksonville cut ties with him after drafting Blaine Gabbert in 2011.
Following his release, Garrard was able to latch on to the Miami Dolphins, but a knee injury would ultimately prevent him from playing another game again. The former East Carolina Pirate formally announced his retirement in 2013. In total, he suited up for 86 games with 76 starts in his nine-year stint with the Jags, finishing his career with a 61.6 percent completion rate, 16,003 yards, 89 passing touchdowns, and 54 interceptions.
Appreciating the trajectory of David Garrard with the Jaguars
There's no doubt that David Garrard was a bright spot for the Jacksonville Jaguars during what turned out to be a dark era. In fact, his iconic Hail Mary touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker is one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.
The @Jaguars were once on the right side of an improbable ending. 😱
🎥: @NFLLegacy pic.twitter.com/hGDQSVhQFc
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 19, 2023
Similarly, Garrard managed to earn a spot in the All-Time 25 list the Jags released in the 25th anniversary of the team.
But wait, there's more. Just recently, Benjamin Solak of ESPN gave Garrard a shoutout in his list of best draft picks at every slot in the common NFL era. Former New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans ultimately got the nod over him at pick 108, but the fact that he was the only Jaguar even mentioned is noteworthy.
And that's the thing, David Garrard will routinely be overlooked even to this day, but he left a notable legacy behind, one that should not be forgotten.
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