No joke! Jacksonville Jaguars fans dress up as clowns to protest owner Shad Khan, GM Trent Baalke
Jacksonville Jaguars fans are letting team owner Shad Khan know what they think of his leadership in a way only #DUUUVAL can.
Fans showed up at Sunday's 2021 season finale against the Indianapolis Colts wearing clown costumes, replete with mustaches in line with Khan's iconic handlebar. The Jaguars "clown game" movement got so loud that RoofClaim.com, the title sponsor of Sunday's game, sued to have its name removed.
The outfits came from a Twitter movement where fans changed their profile pictures to mustachioed clown emoji after news came out Khan would retain general manager Trent Baalke. The Jaguars' two-win season saw Urban Meyer fired 13 games into his controversy-filled tenure and Trevor Lawrence show little improvement after being the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
5 takeaways: Jaguars stun Colts 26-11 in finale victory, still land No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick
Attack of the Khlowns: Jaguars fans bring the circus to The Bank, protest finale vs. Colts
Thanks, Lions!: It's official: Jacksonville Jaguars receive No. 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
Playoff mayhem: A Jaguars win vs. the Colts would lead to NFL playoff madness. Steelers, Ravens and Raiders fans react.
With a loss Sunday, the Jags would finish with the NFL's worst record two seasons in a row.
Here's a look at some of the clowns in the crowd at TIAA Bank Field:
A plane flew a Klowntown banner over TIAA Bank Field before the Jaguars game
Before kickoff, a plane was seen flying around the Jaguars stadium with a banner reading "#KLOWNTOWN" as part of the unofficial "clown game" festivities.
Plane flying around stadium with sign: Clowntown
— John Reid (@JohnReid64) January 9, 2022
— nubz (@J_Nubz) January 9, 2022
Clowns slow to fill up Jaguars stadium
With the game about to get underway, reports said there were not as many clowns inside the stadium as there were outside it.
There could be some red noses that I can't see from my seat but right now my Clown count is pretty low.
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) January 9, 2022
Seeing more clowns coming in, but not a majority. Still, enough to notice in the sparse pre-game crowd for the #Jaguars vs. Colts.
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) January 9, 2022
The crowd did start getting more colorful as kickoff drew nearer.
More clowns making their way in. Interested to see the total when the crowd is all the way in the building. pic.twitter.com/lLxXCKHgr7
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) January 9, 2022
Fans were posting their clown get-up from inside the stadium.
As always in Sec 143 it was really hard for me to come to #KhlownOut today, but i know I’m across from the boxes. It’s not you @Trevorlawrencee it’s #firebaalke #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/K14kHWoUF1
— Samantha (@sammifootball) January 9, 2022
We here #FireBaalke #KhlownOut pic.twitter.com/ZL9R1NsLoN
— Heather Adams (@socialfly1229) January 9, 2022
#DUUUVAL #FireBaalke let’s gooooooooo pic.twitter.com/QBONX8J5WE
— dave (@drizzle_dave) January 9, 2022
And some clowns in attendance showed some respect for the national anthem, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.
It should be noted that a few Jaguars fans did remove their clown wigs for the National Anthem.
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) January 9, 2022
#KhlownOut and #FireBaalke spread across Jaguars Twitter and Instagram
The hashtags ruling the pregame on Twitter were #KhlownOut and #FireBaalke, with fans letting their displeasure of the team retaining GM Trent Baalke known.
Here we go 🤡 #KhlownOut #FireBaalke #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/3CNLKmRrpw
— JT Displays: Hackerman💻 (@JT_inKC) January 9, 2022
Safety first, but stay making a statement! #KhlownOut #FireBaalke @Jaguars pic.twitter.com/Lky5sl1iGe
— . (@gold_jag5) January 9, 2022
Circus up! #dtwd #duuuval pic.twitter.com/pC7FdNYY2N
— Bonnie Upright, APR (@bonnieupright) January 9, 2022
We ready. #duuuval #dtwd pic.twitter.com/k78G6SjuOg
— Bonnie Upright, APR (@bonnieupright) January 9, 2022
It’s time. #FireBaalke #khlownout #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/W2kdESjVnJ
— Bent Traalke (@joeykatana) January 9, 2022
Just another afternoon on the sabbath. #DTWD #FireBaalke pic.twitter.com/7tNvgOMCNd
— Bengals Cap (@BoldCityCap) January 9, 2022
Clowns make an appearance on ESPN
ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown show included some Jags fans in clown wigs in the tailgating lots.
#KhlownOut #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/1l02yZSFSx
— Rabas (@RabasSports) January 9, 2022
Some Jaguars fans choose clown emoji T-shirts and signs over clown costumes
Not everyone chose to voice their displeasure via elaborate get-ups. Some opted for the simpler options.
One last embarrassment #KhlownOut #FireBaalke pic.twitter.com/zM0KpDlq5W
— Drew Renfroe (@RenfroeDrew) January 9, 2022
My second fav. pic.twitter.com/JkCwNKyTZY
— 🔥⚽️🔑 (@toesphotos) January 9, 2022
Jaguars 'clown game' seen around the world
Jags fans from Canada and the UK also checked in with their own clown gear.
We on the #FireBaalke train here in Canada too! 🇨🇦 🤡 #khlownout #Jaguars #DUUUVAL @Jaguars @E_Dilla pic.twitter.com/0LrvcNpzIp
— Peter McPhail (@PeterMcPhail) January 9, 2022
Gameday ready from the UK! Get loud in the stadium today Jags fans. #klowntown #DUUUVAL @JaguarsUK @Jaguars @SkySportsNFL pic.twitter.com/xBsMkEsxyA
— Jags Across The Pond 🐆🏈🇬🇧 (@JaguarsGB) January 9, 2022
More sights from Jaguars 'clown game'
The inflatable suit is one thing, but the custom jersey on his partner is just as brutal.
That jersey though. #duuuval pic.twitter.com/iQlfhT73fc
— Bonnie Upright, APR (@bonnieupright) January 9, 2022
This fan got a clown selfie with Shad Khan himself, sort of.
The Bold City Brigade fan group had quite the procession in their pregame tailgate.
#DTWD pic.twitter.com/2EhwqrWCUu
— Bold City Brigade (@BoldCityBrigade) January 9, 2022
It's proving to be a colorful end to the Jaguars 2021 season.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars clown game: Jacksonville fans mock Shad Khan vs. Colts