The Jacksonville Jaguars are back in hiring mode after closing out the season with a 26-23 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The AFC South team has fired head coach Doug Pederson.
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Owner Shad Khan announced the news Monday morning with a statement. He said that the fans are overdue to be rewarded for their support of the team and that now is the time to bring in a new leader.
"I had the difficult task this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars," Khan said on Monday. "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.
"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."
Pederson, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl 52 win, took over as Jaguars head coach in 2022. He posted a 22-29 record in three seasons and led the Jaguars to the playoffs in 2022 after winning the AFC South. The postseason schedule included a win over the Chargers and a loss to the Chiefs.
A key phrase in Khan's statement is "collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke." The reason is that Baalke's future with the team also remained uncertain as the Jaguars struggled through a losing season that included a 52-6 loss to the Lions.
Baalke has been GM since an interim role in 2020 and has worked with four different coaches. He was in the interim role during Doug Marrone's final season in Jacksonville. His first full season was in 2021 when Urban Meyer was fired after a 2-11 start. Darrell Bevell finished out the season as the interim coach.
Baalke has spent the last three seasons with Pederson as the Jaguars reached the playoffs one time. He will now prepare to work alongside yet another coach in 2025.
