Jason Mendoza rarely gets the respect he deserves, but that never stops him from trying. Per his advice, which he gleaned from obsessively rooting for the Jacksonville Jaguars, “It’s always better to try something.”

Jason Mendoza is one of the five main characters on the sitcom “The Good Place,” four of whom have recently died and entered the afterlife. Initially thinking he’d been mistaken for a silent monk named Jianyu, Jason inhabits the role for as long as he can before his own irrepressible charm gives him away. He’s a Jacksonville native with a rough childhood and minimal education, and because of that, the other characters rarely take him seriously. But he’s the beating heart of the show, and it’s time he got his due.

Like Jacksonville, Jason doesn’t need to prove he’s world-class. Here are a few of the reasons Jason Mendoza is the hero “The Good Place” and Jacksonville need.

Jason is loyal

Despite his impulsivity, Jason is consistently the most honest and transparent character on the show, and he does everything he can for anyone who really needs it. Jason falls deeply in love with Janet, an android with the good sense to be kind and respectful toward him. Observing the principle of reciprocity, he gladly puts his life on the line for her, showing that he’ll do anything for the people who love and support him in return. He also supports his negligent and irresponsible father Donkey Doug, because family is forever and sometimes our parents need us to be strong for them in ways they couldn’t be for us. And of course he never, ever gives up on the Jaguars.

Jason is persistent

A “pre-successful” DJ and a hustler with a dream, Jason comes up with all kinds of novel and creative schemes over the course of the series. They don’t always work, but he never stops trying and always grows from his experiences. Despite his lack of an academic pedigree, he invests himself in the lessons he gets from the moral philosopher Chidi, making definite progress in his personal growth and behaving more ethically as time goes on. Thus, he embodies “growth mindset,” which enables him to achieve feats he would have never considered possible with a less optimistic and resilient outlook.

Jason is adaptable

Because he’s less self-involved, Jason is noticeably better at “faking it to make it” than the other characters. He brings some patience and verve to the role of Jianyu, and even plays the part of a famous DJ (before his desire to be loved for who he really is gets the better of him). He’s willing to adapt to his circumstances, which is arguably the most useful skill to have in such a rapidly changing world.

Jason cuts through BS

Due to his lack of pretension, Jason can see through the veneers of the other characters. He can spot deception the others miss, and in one case is the first to recognize that the entire ontology of the show is fundamentally different from what is assumed. Jason doesn’t always get everyone’s jokes, but he can see through their lies, which makes him a powerful ally.

Jason is confident

Jason believes in himself no matter what. This, explains his occasional paramour Tehani, explains his unusually high aptitude for sex. When we trust our own abilities, we can share our happiness with others. Such is the Jacksonville spirit.

Throughout the run of “The Good Place” Jason perseveres through ridicule, determined to grow and evolve until, eventually, he finds peace. He’s a hero for our times, for Jacksonville and for the world.