Doug Pederson fired by Eagles
Tanking against Washington will be Doug Pederson’s final act as Eagles’ head coach.
Pederson was fired by Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Monday, the team confirmed, following an ugly season in which Philadelphia finished in last place in the dreadful NFC East.
Reports over the weekend indicated that while Pederson was initially expected to return, a meeting with Lurie about the direction of the franchise did not go well, which left Pederson’s future in doubt.
“Although I am disappointed that this chapter of my career has come to an end, I am extremely proud of what we accomplished together,” Pederson said in a statement.
The firing comes just three years after Pederson led Philadelphia to their first Super Bowl title and he finished with a 42-37-1 record as head coach.
“We are all very disappointed with the way our season went and eager to turn things around, not just for next season but also for the future of the franchise,” Lurie said in a statement. “Coach Pederson and I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what that collective vision would look like moving forward. After taking some time to reflect on these conversations, I believe it is in both of our interests to part ways.”
In a 4-11-1 season, the Eagles benched franchise quarterback Carson Wentz after the high-priced QB faltered badly. Wentz was replaced by Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ second-round pick from last year’s draft.
The Eagles lost their final three games and seven of their last eight — including the season-ending defeat to the Washington Football Team, when Pederson benched Hurts in favor of Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter.
Washington held on for the victory to clinch the division — and eliminate the Giants.
The move angered many Giants, including head coach Joe Judge.
“To disrespect the effort that everyone put forward to make this season a success for the NFL, to disrespect the game by not going out there and competing for 60 minutes and doing everything you can to help those players win,” Judge said of the fourth quarter maneuver. “We will never do that as long as I’m the head coach of the New York Giants.”
The 52-year-old Pederson could become a candidate for open head coaching jobs, including the Jets, who are looking for a replacement for the fired Adam Gase.
Pederson and Jets general manager Joe Douglas worked together for three years in Philadelphia, including during the 2017 Super Bowl run.
It’s still not clear what level of interest the Jets might have in Pederson — or that he’ll even look to be a coach in 2021.