Wayne Weaver, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Shahid Khan
IRVING, Texas -- Shahid Khan answered several questions on the minds of Jaguars fans, chiefly about his plans for the team's location.
"I'm totally committed to Jacksonville," Khan said in a news conference following the NFL owners' 32-0 vote to allow him to buy the team from Wayne Weaver.
Khan said today has been a "humbling day," culminating in the "realization of a lifelong American dream."
The man who described himself as a "fanatical" football fan said he will do "whatever it takes" to both put a winner on the field and engage the fans, adding that he considers his ownership of the NFL franchise to be a "partnership" with the fans.
In his remarks, Weaver, who will be the owner until the deal closes on January 4, said the Khan family will "continue to build the legacy" he began. "I really feel great about handing over the stewardship" to Khan, who he foresees "finishing the job of bringing a championship to Jacksonville."
Khan said he has had a long interest in owning a team -- he was blocked at the last minute in 2010 from purchasing the St. Louis Rams -- and has spent the past few years getting to know the owners, including Weaver, to help him understand how the league operates.
He and Weaver both said the next month will be a "collaborative" process as they handle not only the transfer of ownership, but also the search for a new coach. The same day Weaver announced the sale of the team, he announced the firing of Jack Del Rio as the Jaguars are mired in another sub-par season on the field. They have not made the playoffs since the 2007 season.
"All the building blocks are there to have a winner on the field," Khan said today. Weaver, moments earlier, acknowledged that the team has struggled this year, but insisted they're only a couple of drafts away from being a contender again.
Khan, who started in an auto parts store in college and worked his way up to billionaire status by buying Flex-n-Gate, shared some of his thought process on NFL ownership in engineer-speak: ""Three-dimensional chess with almost infinite variables."
He said he has a "combination of business acumen and a love for football," and is smart enough to know where his expertise lies. Regarding the x's and o's, "There are a lot of people out there that are much better than I am."
He didn't linger in the business talk for long, however.
"Let the fun begin," Khan said as he concluded his remarks.
Khan let his personality through as well during the news conference, saying he understands his moustache has a life of its own in Jacksonville.
"If I'm to, kind of, believe the Jacksonville fans, I mean, a moustache can leap big buildings," he said, chuckling. He also said he's had the 'stache since 1972.
Khan spoke highly of the city, saying the support he and his wife Ann have received since the deal was announced has been "heartwarming and over the top."
"Ann and I will do our best," Khan said, to bring their community spirit to Jacksonville. In their hometown of Champagne, Illinois, the Khans are widely known for their philanthropy.
Mayor Alvin Brown has repeatedly pleaded with Khan to buy a home downtown.
"I definitely will have a residence there," Khan said this afternoon, but he didn't specify downtown. He also said he is already a legal resident of Florida.
Weaver has been the team's owner since 1993, when the Jaguars were introduced as the league's 30th team.
First Coast News