How Anthony Campanile is shaping Jaguars’ defensive identity

The Jacksonville Jaguars saw massive improvement in their defense under Anthony Campanile in 2025, and luckily, he is returning for 2026. Despite terrible defensive performances in 2024 under then-DC Ryan Nielsen, Campanile brought forward a tough, physical Jaguars defense that was No. 1 against the run.

Now, as Jacksonville looks forward to the 2026 season, Campanile is preparing to build on last year's success. In an appearance on the O-Zone Podcast, Campanile discussed how he created the Jaguars' defensive identity and the toughness he instilled in his players. Much has been made about the loss of Devin Lloyd, who had a breakout season in 2025 under Campanile.

But the majority of the roster is returning, which Campanile said bodes well for the team in 2026. "That's been nice, and I think the best part of that is the continuity, the amount of guys that are back," he said. "You kind of feel like you're working with the same unit.

A couple guys who aren't back with us, but the majority of the defense is back. So just being able to hit the ground running and having a foundation underneath so many of these guys has been really, really fun, because you're kind of getting into much more of the specifics at this point, even in phase one. " With so many players already familiar with his coaching methods and scheme, Campanile explained that it allows him to go into more of a deep dive from the beginning, rather than needing to get multiple new players caught up on the basics.