Doug Pederson, the only person to guide the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title, was hired as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.
Pederson, who turned 54 on Monday, was out of the NFL for the 2021 season after the Eagles fired him last January.
In his five seasons in Philadelphia, he produced a 42-37-1 record and earned three playoff berths. The Eagles won Super Bowl LII following the 2017 season, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 41-33.
According to ESPN, the Jaguars interviewed 10 candidates to fill the head-coaching vacancy created after they fired Urban Meyer in mid-December following on-field and off-field issues. The team was 2-11 under Meyer and went 1-3 under interim head coach Darrell Bevell, who also reportedly got an interview for the permanent role.
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich both had two interviews with the Jaguars this month, according to ESPN and CBS Sports. Eberflus subsequently was hired to be the Chicago Bears’ head coach.
The Jaguars also expressed interest in Nathaniel Hackett, with varying media reports indicating that he got one or two interviews with Jacksonville, but the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator got the job as the Denver Broncos’ head coach.
Jacksonville’s 3-14 record this season was the worst in the NFL, assuring the Jaguars of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for the second year in a row.
Last April, Jacksonville selected Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the top pick, and he started every game as a rookie. Lawrence threw for 3,641 yards and 12 touchdowns but was intercepted 17 times, which tied for most in the NFL with Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Pederson’s resume likely led the Jaguars to believe he could help Lawrence progress.
Pederson was the Eagles’ quarterback coach in 2011-12 before serving the next three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. After returning to Philadelphia as head coach, he oversaw the early career success of QB Carson Wentz before Nick Foles took over for an injured Wentz in the 2017-18 playoffs and propelled the Eagles to the championship.
With Pederson’s hiring, there remain four vacancies for the nine head-coaching jobs that were open after the 2021 regular season ended, with current openings in Houston, Miami, Minnesota and New Orleans.
