Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson survived the NFL’s Black Monday, but his future with the organization could be in peril due to growing concerns from ownership.
Just a week after Philadelphia’s season ended in embarrassing fashion, with the NFL world calling Pederson out for an apparent tank job, the 52-year-old coach may soon face the most important interview in his career. Amid increasing problems within the Eagles, Pederson may need to save his job.
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Doug Pederson uncertain to remain with Philadelphia Eagles
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Doug Pederson’s status in Philadelphia is not firm as the organization enters the second week of its offseason. In a matter of days, team owner Jeffrey Lurie will meet with the Super Bowl-winning coach to determine if they are aligned regarding the team’s vision.
Problems for Pederson started before the 2020 NFL season even kicked off. Many around the league speculated that he reached his limit as an NFL head coach and the returns would likely get worse for the Eagles. Sure enough, a year after going 9-7 and winning the NFC East, Philadelphia finished with a 4-11-1 record this season.
The team’s biggest problem was quarterback Carson Wentz, who alarmingly regressed not long after signing a massive contract extension. In 12 games as the starter, Wentz threw 15 interceptions, completed just 57.4% of his passes and was sacked 50 times. Despite never playing in another game after his benching, he still led the league in sacks taken and interceptions.
Pederson drew plenty of criticism, too. He waited far too long to bench Wentz and repeatedly made inexcusable coaching blunders. In a year that saw the Washington Football Team win the division with a 7-9 record, despite their own issues, Pederson’s decisions proved costly to the Eagles.
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Yet, entering Week 17, multiple reports indicated Pederson would return as head coach for the 2021 NFL season. But all of that came before Philadelphia’s humiliating showing on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.
Pederson pulled Jalen Hurts in favor of Nate Sudfeld early in the fourth quarter, a decision that shocked and angered players and assistant coaches. Amid multiple sideline confrontations on the sideline, players could only watch as Pederson’s decision blew up and gifted a victory and the NFC East crown to Washington.
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Carson Wentz wants out of Philadelphia, citing his benching and a fractured relationship with Pederson that is reportedly beyond repair. But, according to Mortensen, that’s not the only issue that could lead to a coaching change. Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly has concerns beyond Pederson’s fractured partnership with Wentz and it could result in a firing.
If the Eagles are going to fire Doug Pederson, the move needs to happen quickly. There are six NFL head-coaching vacancies right now, but each club has interviewed multiple candidates. If Lurie isn’t fast to act, Philadelphia will be picking from a smaller pool and their next head coach won’t have a lot of options to fill out his coaching staff.