July 8, 2019
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former guard Chris Naeole has been named No. 25 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.
“It was an honor and a privilege to play for the Jaguars,” said Naeole. “The best part of living in Jacksonville was the amazing friendships I made with people that I now consider part of my Ohana.”
Naeole, 6-3, 317, was originally drafted by New Orleans in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft before signing with the Jaguars prior to the 2002 season. Raised in Ka’a’awa, O’ahu, Naeole became the state of Hawaii’s then-highest draft pick when he was selected 10th overall by the Saints. Naeole started in all 16 games during his first three seasons in Jacksonville, helping former All-Pro RB Fred Taylor rush for more than 1,000 yards on each occasion. In total, he started in 150 of 154 games played over 11 years with New Orleans and Jacksonville, and only missed one NFL game before he suffered an injury in Week 8 of the 2007 season. Naeole attended Colorado, where he was a three-year starter and consensus All-American as a senior in 1996.
“Naeole just looked the part, said Brian Sexton, Jaguars senior correspondent and an All-25 voting member. “He was part Arnold Schwarzenegger, part Vin Diesel and all football player.”
After retiring from the NFL, Naeole was an assistant coach for three seasons at the ‘Iolani School in Honolulu. Naeole then served as the offensive line coach for the University of Hawaii and was named interim head coach for the Rainbow Warriors in 2015.
Naeole and his wife, Tara, have two children, Azure and Christian, and reside in Honolulu.
For more information on Jaguars All-25, including stories, interviews and statistics, please visit https://www.jaguars.com/all25.
JAGUARS ALL-25:
25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)
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