2023 Mascot Hall of Fame Best In-Game Routine or Skit Award Winner
Jaxson de Ville is the official mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a member of the NFL’s AFC South division who have called EverBank Stadium (formerly TIAA Bank Field) home since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1995. Jaxson has been part of the Jaguars’ identity almost from the beginning — an oversized, irreverent jaguar with a flair for the dramatic and an apparent complete disregard for the concept of personal safety. That fearlessness earned him the 2023 Mascot Hall of Fame Best In-Game Routine or Skit Award (NFL/Major League category) for a pre-game stunt that has become one of the most iconic traditions in professional football.
Jaxson’s Leap — 200 Feet of Pure Adrenaline
As part of his signature pregame routine, Jaxson climbs to the top of the light towers at EverBank Stadium, nearly 200 feet above the field, and launches himself off in a stunt that might involve a swan dive, a double backflip, or a gainer, before transitioning into a bungee and zipline ride high above the crowd below.
The first glimpse fans get of Jaxson on game day is often that silhouette at the top of the tower, moments before the drop. It sets the tone for everything that follows. The stunt has been a tradition for nearly a decade, and its reputation has grown to the point where opposing fans have been known to make the trip to Jacksonville specifically to see it in person.
Taking the Leap to London
Jaxson’s leap isn’t confined to Florida. As part of the NFL’s International Series, Jaxson replicated his signature stunt at both Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England — making him the only NFL mascot to perform a stunt of this nature on an international stage. That’s not just a great in-game routine. That’s a world tour.
EverBank Stadium is one of the few NFL venues situated directly on a waterfront, overlooking the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. If Jaxson ever misses the landing, at least he has options.
