Derek Trucks Talks Love Of Jacksonville Jaguars Ahead Of Playoff Game

Tedeschi Trucks Band guitarist Derek Trucks is getting very excited for Sunday. This Sunday, the Jacksonville native will witness his beloved Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium, the team’s first home playoff game in nearly 18 years. Derek spoke with Pro Football Weekly’s (PFW) Eric Edholm about his love for the Jags and his long history as a football fan.

The guitarist’s wife, Susan Tedeschi, will sing the anthem at Sunday’s game. Derek revealed to PFW his fandom dates back to the days before Jacksonville had an NFL team, “My dad and grandfather had taken me to Jacksonville Bulls games in the old USFL in the 1980s. The NFL was always kind of being teased Jacksonville. The city always has been a bit of a bridesmaid.” He talked about the excitement of the team coming into existence in 1995. “My dad and his friends had season tickets right from the first year,” the guitarist said. “They always had outrageous tailgate parties. They were winning those ‘Tailgate of the Year’ awards and getting sent off to other cities for that.” Derek played some of those parties, “They were just total knuckleheads. They’d hire bands to play before games, and I’d even sit in with them at times. So it was always a thing.”

Derek Trucks didn’t expect the Jags to be as good as they’ve been. “We factor in the Super Bowl every year because we try to get out,” the guitarist said. “We don’t book tours around the Super Bowl. But I hadn’t factored in the Jaguars being in the playoffs. So we have a lot of gigs in January. [laughs]” Trucks also discussed his wife and childrens’ fandom. Head here for the full interview for more from Derek.

Watch Derek Trucks explain why he’s a Jags fan: