Only Jaguars mascot in team history retires after 19 years

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) For the second time in franchise history, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for a new mascot.

Or at least someone new to wear the ''Jaxson de Ville'' costume.

Curtis Dvorak, who has been ''The Cat'' since the mascot's inception in 1996, announced Tuesday that he is retiring after 19 seasons.

The 39-year-old Dvorak entertained and often mesmerized fans with his fearless and creative stunts, which most notably included bungee jumping from the top of scoreboards and light fixtures. He donned the suit for 192 games, including 37 preseason and three postseason.

His tenure also included some controversy. The NFL changed its rules regarding mascot behavior in part because of Jaxson's sideline and end zone antics in the late 1990s, and the cat made headlines last fall after using the Ebola epidemic to mock the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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