Doug Pederson Could Get Fired Again for Repeating Same Mistake

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on before a regular season NFL football matchup
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on before a regular season NFL football matchup / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA
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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is going to bat for his offensive coordinator Press Taylor. These two have a rich history together dating back to their time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Taylor was on Pederson's staff from 2016 to 2020 before heading down to Jacksonville together. That played a big part in why he was fired on Jan. 11, 2021. Pederson was reportedly "sick of people telling him what to do" within the Eagles organization.

He was alluding to people in Philadelphia wanting Press Taylor fired from the staff but the 55-year-old wasn't fond of that idea.

Fast forward three years later and similar problems are showing up in Jacksonville. In Week 13, the Jaguars were 8-3 with a clear cut to making the playoffs. Instead, they dropped five of its last six games to miss the postseason. The offense struggled in that stretch, scoring 20 or fewer points in three of the last four matchups.

Even though Jacksonville finished the season 13th in total offense (339.5), they looked stale and predictable at times. Something eerily similar to their tenure in Philadelphia. During the 2020 campaign, the Eagles were 23rd in total offense (334.6) and 28th in passing offense (207.9) with just 20.6 points per game. They also ended the year dropping five of the last six games and missed the playoffs.

Taylor was the passing game coordinator with the Eagles but their aerial attack took a step back. Now in 2023, Trevor Lawrence looked like he even regressed at times under Taylor's watch, logging 21 total turnovers, the highest since his rookie season.

Pederson still heaped praise on the 35-year-old coordinator when he met with reporters on Monday.

The Super Bowl-winning coach needs to tread lightly. His allegiance to Taylor may eventually cost him another head-coaching gig. Just like it did in 2021.

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