Doug Pederson’s tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars has come to an end after the team managed just four wins this season.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan made the decision to part ways with Pederson on Black Monday, less than 24 hours after a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The defeat marked Jacksonville’s 18th loss in their last 23 games.
While Pederson was dismissed, general manager Trent Baalke retained his position, a controversial move that may impact the Jaguars’ search for a new head coach.
Khan’s decision comes with one year remaining on Pederson’s contract and follows a season that failed to meet lofty expectations.
Before the campaign began, Khan described this as the “best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever.”
“Winning now” was the message as the Jaguars entered training camp, backed by an off-season spending spree that saw nearly half a billion dollars committed to long-term deals for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell.
A statement from Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. pic.twitter.com/jpNoeSfm81
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 6, 2025
Despite this massive investment, the results fell well short of expectations.
“Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives,” Khan said in a statement.
“As much as Doug and I both wish his experience here in Jacksonville would have ended better, I have an obligation first and foremost to serve the best interests of our team and especially our fans, who faithfully support our team and are overdue to be rewarded. In that spirit, the time to summon new leadership is now.
“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago.
“I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville.”
The Jaguars’ 4-13 record this season marked their 10th losing campaign in Khan’s 13 years as owner.
Jaguars part ways with head coach Doug Pederson. pic.twitter.com/8nRW6Z8s3T
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025
Pederson, hired in February 2021 after a year away from coaching, was initially seen as a stabilising force and led the team to the play-offs in his first season, finishing 9-8 and delivering a memorable come-from-behind victory over the Chargers in the 2023 AFC Wild Card Round.
However, the team’s momentum vanished in 2023. An injury-plagued squad went 1-5 down the final run of games, missing the play-offs after leading the AFC South for nearly two months.
The team’s struggles in close games – going 3-10 in one-score contests this season – ultimately sealed Pederson’s fate.
Pederson leaves Jacksonville with a 23-30 record, far removed from the Super Bowl-winning coach he was with the Philadelphia Eagles.
His crowning achievement remains leading the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl title in 2018.
