JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Traveling across the country is part of life in the NFL—and one of the reasons players earn the big bucks. But even for seasoned pros, the constant travel can take a toll on both the mind and body.
In 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars will log over 22,000 miles, crossing 20 time zones. While that sounds exhausting, it ranks only 11th among NFL teams this season. Still, no matter how much a team travels, the physical and mental effects accumulate throughout the year.
“Throughout the years here, we’ve always felt like our backs have been against the wall, so obviously being on the road contributes to that,” tight end Evan Engram said. “But we’re trying to win games. So, wherever we are, we’ve got to do that.”
Veteran center Mitch Morse, now in his 10th NFL season, emphasized the importance of managing sleep deprivation to survive the grind.
“Finding wins throughout the day, because there’s a lot more suffering in this business than there is gratification at times,” Morse said. “So, that’s when you lean into guys and pour into them.”
This season’s schedule is especially demanding for the Jaguars. They play half their games on the road, including two in London, and won’t have any back-to-back home games in Jacksonville. That makes mental resilience essential.
“Our staff has done a really good job of preparing us, whether it’s going over to London or coming back,” wide receiver Christian Kirk said. “Just doing the things to get us right—not only from a physical standpoint, but a mental standpoint. Making sure we’re getting enough sleep and recovery.”
For rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones, life on the road in the NFL has been a welcome upgrade from his college experience.
“You know, in college, you don’t really fly private jet. So, we fly PJ,” Jones said. “Being gone eight hours, you can let your seat back and go to sleep. I didn’t really get to do that in college. We just sat stationary. And then, you got more free time to go out and see stuff in the NFL compared to college.”
The Jaguars have already put their most taxing trip behind them this season. However, a new challenge looms as the team navigates the latest bye week in franchise history. Jacksonville won’t get its bye until Week 12 for the first time.