The 2002 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 8th in the National Football League and their eight and final under head coach Tom Coughlin.

The team matched their 2001 record of 6–10 and finished 3rd place in the AFC South, missing the playoffs for the third season in a row.

The Colts and Jaguars faced off for the first time as divisional rivals in their season opener on September 8 in Jacksonville.

In the final minutes of the second quarter, Mark Brunell was intercepted by Colts linebacker Marcus Washington who returned the ball 40 yards for a touchdown.

The Jaguars missed a 52–yard field goal attempt, resulting in a halftime score of 14–7 in favor of the Colts.

Gibson was released after the game eventually signing with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, Bobby Shaw would take his place the remainder of the year.

The Jaguars mounted a lengthy drive, scoring a touchdown and converting a two–point attempt to narrow the Colts' lead to just three points with a little over four minutes remaining.

On the subsequent drive, the Jaguars appeared to force a three–and–out, but a penalty for running into the kicker granted the Colts a fresh set of downs.