Northeast Florida 2022 sports in review: Hall calls for Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler

The first signs of a long-awaited Jacksonville Jaguars revival under Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence.

A soggy but sensational five days at The Players Championship.

A 50-year-old on the gridiron, and an 18-year-old with an elusive four-minute mile.

Those were just some of the achievements and the moments to remember across the sports scene in 2022 for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, a year to remember for its highlights and its setbacks.

From a red-and-black triumph in the annual Georgia-Florida clash at TIAA Bank Field to the return of the UFC mixed martial arts championship to the First Coast, the Times-Union looks back at the past 12 months across the Jacksonville area in sports.

This is the first of four parts, looking at January through March.

Jan. 7: Roofing business RoofClaim, the title sponsor for the Jaguars' season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, sues to remove its name from the event over fans' plans to dress as clowns in a protest against the team's 2-14 season.

Jan. 9: The Jaguars defeat the Indianapolis Colts 26-11 in the season finale, ending the 2021 season at 3-14 and receiving the top NFL Draft pick for the second consecutive season because of the Lions' 37-30 upset of the Packers.

Jan. 17: The ECHL's leading players take on the Jacksonville Icemen as the league's All-Star Classic comes to VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The ECHL All-Stars won 14-7.

Jan. 22: Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Jacob Panetta is suspended indefinitely, later amended to 22 games, after directing a gesture with offensive racial connotations toward the South Carolina Stingrays' Jordan Subban during an on-ice altercation. The ECHL eventually reinstated Panetta March 18.

Jan. 31: Former Raines High School coach and athletic director Jimmie Johnson, a state finalist in football who also led the community in many other roles, dies at age 88.

Feb. 3: The Jaguars hire former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson as the sixth full-time coach in franchise history, following the brief tenure of Urban Meyer.

Feb. 6: Christopher McCaffrey and Meaghan Murray-Neuberger win the Donna Marathon, the annual race to raise funds for breast cancer research and support, along its new route starting and ending in Jacksonville Beach.

Feb. 10: After a 16-year wait, former offensive tackle Tony Boselli becomes the first-ever Jacksonville Jaguars player selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Boselli played for the Jags from 1995 to 2001.

Feb. 10: Lee High School graduate LeRoy Butler, a Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, is selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Feb. 12: The University of North Florida's Matthew Driscoll becomes the first men's basketball coach to win 200 games for a Division I school in Jacksonville as the Ospreys defeat Kennesaw State 74-72.

Feb. 17: The Jaguars complete their coaching staff under Doug Pederson, including Press Taylor as offensive coordinator and Mike Caldwell as defensive coordinator.

Feb. 23: St. Johns Country Day extends its state title streak to 11 years, defeating Shorecrest Prep for the Class 2A girls soccer championship.

Feb. 24: Former Houston Oilers Pro Bowl wide receiver Kenny Burrough, a Raines High School graduate who starred in the NFL of the 1970s, dies at age 73.

Feb. 25: Fletcher defeats Miami Lourdes 1-0 in the Class 6A girls soccer final, the first-ever FHSAA soccer title for a Duval County public school, and Creekside tops Cypress Bay 3-1 for the Class 7A championship in DeLand.

Feb. 26: Former Raines High School track coach and athletic director James Day, the longtime organizer of the Bob Hayes Invitational Track Meet, dies at age 89.

Feb. 28: The Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors votes to divide football into Metro and Suburban classes in an attempt to improve competitive balance.

March 4: Bradford defeats Paxton in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A boys basketball final, the Tornadoes' first state title in the sport.

March 5: Nico Montanez storms down a realigned Hart Bridge finishing stretch for a tight victory and Emily Sisson wins her second women's championship at the 45th annual Gate River Run.

March 8: Bellarmine defeats Jacksonville University in the final of the ASUN men's basketball tournament, denying the Dolphins their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1986.

March 9: Tiger Woods highlights the class of honorees at the World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the PGA Tour's Global Home, along with former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, LPGA golfer Susie Maxwell Berning and golf developer Marion Hollins.

March 14: Jacksonville resident Cameron Smith ends a roller-coaster five-day tournament of rain, wind, storms and highlights as victor of The Players Championship at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

March 14: The Jaguars open free agency with numerous signings, including five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, wide receiver Christian Kirk and linebacker Foye Oluokun.

March 16: The Jaguars reach a contract agreement with former Creekside High School defensive back Darious Williams, part of the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl team.

March 16: Jacksonville University signs head men's basketball coach Jordan Mincy to a nine-year contract extension through 2021.

March 26: Former Jacksonville University head basketball coach Joe Williams, who led the Dolphins' run to the final of the NCAA Tournament, dies of cancer at age 88.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX, and sign up for the First Coast Varsity newsletter at https://profile.jacksonville.com/newsletters/first-coast-varsity/.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville area 2022 sports review Part 1: January through March