JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo has only been in Jacksonville for five months but he and his fiancée, Megan, have already made themselves at home.
Lambo has become a popular face on the First Coast since signing with the Jaguars in November of last year.
He frequently appears at Jaguars-related events and is a staple of the Jacksonville sports scene. The fourth-year player is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at Sunday's Jumbo Shrimp game.
Lambo recently spoke during intermission at Monster Jam's show at EverBank Field in February and spent time with the US National Team during the squad's trip to Jacksonville.
The kicker has embraced his new city as it has embraced him.
"It's already become a very special place," Lambo said during a phone conversation with First Coast News.
"I've had some career moments here, I've had some big life moments go on here. The city, in general, has really accepted me and taken me in, as well as Megan and our dogs. The town, for me coming in, was unassuming but once we got here, there's a reason why we stayed here this offseason."
Lambo wasn't able to really explore Jacksonville during the season. He replaced former kicker Jason Myers in the middle of last year's campaign and focused solely on football.
"You can't really get the lay of the land because business obviously comes first," Lambo said.
Since the start of the offseason, Lambo has taken advantage of his opportunities on the First Coast. He is grateful for the perks that come with being the Jaguars' kicker.
"For one, it's really cool, if I had a lot of other jobs, I wouldn't be asked to go and throw out the first pitch at a Jumbo Shrimp game and I wouldn't be doing interviews and get to go speak at Monster Jam and get to go watch," Lambo said.
"The opportunities are there so that's the reason why I am taking them. Also, you get to interact with the city, with the fans and to help out the Jaguars organization, they've certainly helped me out, so anything I can do to kind of rep the name of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a positive light, I'm certainly going to do that."
Setting up shop in Jacksonville has allowed Lambo to reconnect with his first love: soccer. He played professional soccer before joining Texas A&M's college football team.
Lambo's recent visit with the US National Team enabled him to take a trip down memory lane.
"It's always awesome being around the national team, whether its men's or women's," Lambo said.
"I have a really good relationship with the organization overall. Any time I'm in or around the national team, it's special. Getting to play at the U-17 World Cup and being a backup in the U-20 World Cup, wearing that crest over your heart is really, really special."
Despite leaving the game, Lambo remains a big soccer fan. He is a proud US National Team alumni.
"The outpour of love from the soccer community, especially US Soccer, that I've gotten - throughout my football career - has been nothing short of humbling and really, really stellar," Lambo said.
"I'm always grateful to hang around the national team because it's the best of the best."
Lambo now wants to be the best kicker he can be at the NFL level. He is looking to be among the top players in his second profession.
"There isn't an equivalent to being on the national team in the NFL," Lambo said.
"If you make the Pro Bowl that would probably be the closest thing but that's an award rather than an opportunity to represent your country. So hopefully I get the opportunity to be a Pro Bowl player because that would be the closest thing to being a national team player again."
In order to receive his first Pro Bowl honor, Lambo will have to turn in another special season for the Jaguars. He was snubbed last season because he only played in 10 regular-season games.
"My goal for next season and for every game and for every kick really is to go 1-for-1 [on field goals]," Lambo said. "That's kind of been my mentality since I started to kick. I can't go 20-for-20 or 30-for-30 in a season without going 1-for-1 on every kick."
Lambo has been working with the Jaguars' strength and conditioning staff during the offseason. He has also been taking classes at Power Pilates Plus on Atlantic Blvd.
The added effort prior to the start of the offseason program will potentially lead to another successful season for Lambo.
"I'm just trying to do anything that I feel is necessary for me to have my best season yet."
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter: @Mike_E_Kaye.