Feb 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy after a victory against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Matthew Emmons
Following a dismal 4-13 finish in 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Doug Pederson on Black Monday. Six weeks into the 2025 NFL season, Pederson has yet to put on the headset again.
But that doesn't mean he wouldn't at least think it over if the Philadelphia Eagles came calling.
Pederson appeared on JAKIB Sports' The National Football Show with Dan Sileo on Tuesday. Among many other things, Sileo asked Pederson if the Eagles have ever contacted him to be an offensive consultant. Pederson said they hadn't, but Sileo asked if he would have considered it, and Pederson had this to say:
"I probably would have. I probably would have considered that. I don't know what the protocol is for former head coaches going back to the place where they won a championship, coached for five years, if that's something that is the right thing to do. I had opportunities this past year to do that same thing with other teams, and I just wasn't in a good frame of mind at the time to do that.
"But Philadelphia's always going to be a special place for me, in my heart. (We won) the first championship in Eagles history, obviously, Super Bowl LII, for that city."
Would Doug Pederson COME BACK to Eagles?
"I would have considered it!"
Doug answers on whether the Eagles have asked him to return as a consultant & if he ever would in the future! #Eagles #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/WSg1hpdx3l
Pederson, of course, was the Eagles' head coach from 2016 to 2020. As he said, he brought Philadelphia its first Lombardi Trophy in 2017.
The idea of Pederson returning as an offensive consultant is admittedly pretty far-fetched, and the chances of it actually happening are slim to none. Current head coach Nick Sirianni probably wouldn't be super cheesed if Eagles brass brought in a former head coach to help him do his job, especially considering that the former head coach literally has a statue outside of Lincoln Financial Field:
Doug Pederson and Nick Foles statue. Doug has never seen it in person which is still wild to me. @ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/6tvXzOdDhm
Yeah, Sirianni wouldn't be thrilled.
But there's another consideration, too: Would Pederson actually help the Eagles offense right now?
During Pederson's Eagles tenure, he functioned as the sole play-caller from 2016 to 2019. Obviously, the 2017 season, particularly the final two games of the postseason, was brilliant. After that, to Pederson's credit, he schemed around countless injured Eagles. But fans were often puzzled by his play calls, particularly in short-yardage situations. Year after year, Pederson's offense grew staler.
In 2020, it all fell apart. As the Eagles floundered and Carson Wentz crumbled, Pederson began giving portions of play-calling duties to then-Eagles passing game coordinator Press Taylor and senior offensive assistant Rich Scangarello.
The Eagles finished 4-11-1. Ownership wanted Pederson to shake up his coaching staff, including replacing Taylor. Pederson refused to fire Taylor, and he died on that sword. The Eagles showed him the door.
In Jacksonville, those issues only worsened. Pederson called the plays during his first season in 2022 and led the Jaguars to an AFC South division title and a playoff victory. But heading into 2023, Pederson announced that Taylor – his offensive coordinator – would call the plays. Taylor stumbled, the offense stagnated and then deteriorated, and Pederson never took the reins back. He was fired after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
In short, while 2017 was an excellent season, and while Pederson will forever be a Philadelphia legend for what he accomplished that year, he just hasn't shown himself to be an elite play-caller otherwise. The Eagles offense has a lot of problems already. Bringing Pederson onto the staff now would be a gamble that would likely cause more friction than solutions.
Now if, say, Frank Reich were interested in a return? I would hear that one out.
