JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) fired Doug Pederson on Monday, leaving proprietor Shad Khan to hunt his sixth head coach since he bought the staff in November 2011.
Pederson, who received a Super Bowl teaching the Philadelphia Eagles, was employed in January 2022. In his first season, Pederson led the Jaguars to a 9-8 file, AFC South title and playoff win. In 2023, the Jaguars went 9-8 once more however missed the playoffs. Khan anticipated them to return to the postseason in 2024, nevertheless it all shortly fell aside when the Jaguars began the season 0-4.
Along the best way, there have been embarrassing losses to the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions (the 46-point margin was the worst in franchise historical past). The Jaguars’ 4 victories got here in opposition to groups with no profitable file.
The Jaguars had the worst passing protection within the league — giving up 257.4 yards per recreation. The offense was ravaged by accidents — none larger than quarterback Trevor Lawrence lacking seven video games with a shoulder harm and concussion — and struggled to search out consistency. Pederson was unable to search out solutions, regardless of the staff spending huge on free brokers within the offseason.
Here’s extra from ESPN Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco, NFL nationwide reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL draft analyst Matt Miller on why the Jaguars moved on from Pederson and what’s in retailer for the Jaguars this offseason.
Why was Pederson unable to repair the Jaguars’ points?
At one level in November 2023, the Jaguars had been 8-3 and in competition for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. They not solely missed the playoffs that season, however have gone 5-18 since, with the one victories coming over the Carolina Panthers (2023), Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans (twice) and the New England Patriots.
Pederson did not have the solutions to show the ship round.
The Jaguars had been 3-10 in one-score video games this season, essentially the most such losses in a single season within the Super Bowl period (since 1966), in accordance with ESPN analysis.
Beyond wins and losses, Pederson’s incapability to raise Lawrence into one of many NFL’s high quarterbacks was an issue. Since a powerful ending to the 2022 season, Lawrence — and the offense — have steadily declined.
From the beginning of the 2022 season to Week 12 of 2023, Lawrence accomplished 67% of his passes with 37 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Since that time, these numbers have dropped to 61.3% with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. More importantly, his off-target share jumped from 14.3% to 19.7%, per ESPN Research.
Lawrence missed eight video games due to a number of accidents over that span, together with the seven this season.
Despite Khan hinting this previous offseason that he wished Pederson to take again playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Press Taylor, Pederson caught with Taylor and the offense saved regressing.
Khan informed the staff earlier than the season started that this was the perfect Jaguars squad ever assembled and that he anticipated to make the playoffs — and Pederson in the end failed to do this. — DiRocco
A press release from Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. pic.twitter.com/jpNoeSfm81
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 6, 2025
Why did they maintain GM Trent Baalke?
While basic supervisor Trent Baalke does shoulder some blame, he’s being retained by Khan and can help to find a 3rd head coach in 5 years. He is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract.
Baalke, who took over as GM after Dave Caldwell was fired in 2020, drafted Lawrence and working again Travis Etienne Jr. within the first spherical in 2021.
The GM made a questionable resolution by selecting defensive finish Travon Walker over DE Aidan Hutchinson with the primary total draft choose in 2022. Walker has been an excellent participant — he has 24 profession sacks, together with 20.5 mixed the previous two seasons — however Hutchinson has 28.5 sacks for the Detroit Lions and was main the NFL with 7.5 earlier than struggling a damaged leg in Week 5.
But Baalke’s 2024 first-round choose, receiver Brian Thomas Jr., set franchise rookie information in catches, yards and landing receptions and is thought to be the perfect receiver from the rookie class. Khan told the Florida Times-Union throughout the season that Thomas was proof of the Jaguars’ draft course of working.
Baalke’s free agent class in 2022 — tight finish Evan Engram, receiver Christian Kirk, receiver Zay Jones, proper guard Brandon Scherff, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and cornerback Darious Williams — was among the best in franchise historical past and the core of the staff once they made the playoffs.
But 2024’s free agent class, apart from heart Mitch Morse, was a large disappointment after doling out over $75 million in ensures. Receiver Gabe Davis had 20 catches in 10 video games earlier than happening IR with a knee harm, defensive deal with Arik Armstead performed primarily at finish and tallied two sacks, cornerback Ronald Darby misplaced his beginning job and returner/receiver Devin Duvernay and security Darnell Savage have made minimal affect.
There is clearly hope {that a} new coach will probably be sufficient to spark these Jaguars with out having to bear a rebuild of the entrance workplace. — DiRocco
How will Lawrence be affected?
A 3rd head coach in 5 seasons is not supreme, however a contemporary begin might be good for Lawrence, particularly if the Jaguars rent a high offensive coordinator such because the Lions’ Ben Johnson or the Buccaneers’ Liam Cohen.
The Jaguars’ offense — and Lawrence — have grow to be stagnant, and digging into a brand new system might energize him. Lawrence turned 25 in October. He’s a younger, proficient participant with potential, making the Jaguars’ job engaging, since Lawrence is below contract for the following six seasons.
Change is not at all times unhealthy for quarterbacks. We’ve seen that with Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold — the primary and third picks, respectively, in 2018 — having a profession renaissance this season after issues soured with their authentic groups. Both threw for greater than 4,000 yards and 35-plus touchdowns this season after lastly touchdown in higher conditions.
Coach Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings went 3-6 final season whereas beginning Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall after dropping Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles, and now he has Darnold within the MVP dialog. Mayfield has thrown 39 landing passes, shattering his earlier profession excessive (28) in Cohen’s first season because the Bucs’ offensive coordinator.
There is not any need to maneuver on from Lawrence, so bringing in the precise head coach and/or offensive coordinator might spark an identical surge. — DiRocco
Does the roster have the expertise to be a right away contender in 2025?
On the offensive facet, sure — offered the staff would not determine to maneuver on from Kirk and Engram in an effort to avoid wasting $16.9 million in cap house (which might additionally require a $27.1 million lifeless cap hit). Both gamers have proved their reference to Lawrence and are veteran voices within the locker room.
Lawrence has proven he can play at a game-changing degree — from Week 12 in 2022 to Week 12 in 2023, he ranked within the high 10 in completion share, yards per try, QBR and passing yards, and the Jaguars had been 14-4. He simply wants to remain wholesome.
Now he has a WR1 in Thomas and a working again duo in Etienne and Tank Bigsby that might be strong.
Four starters will return from an offensive line that ranked nineteenth in move block win price (58.6%) and twenty fifth in run block win price (70.2%), so that’s considerably of a priority.
The largest roster concern is the protection. It ranked final within the NFL in passing (257.4 yards per recreation) and turnovers (9), thirty first in whole protection (389.9), and twenty seventh in scoring (25.6 factors per recreation) below coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who was in his first season with the Jaguars.
Upgrades this offseason are wanted at security, inside line of defense, cornerback, and linebacker — and the Jaguars have to discover a third move rusher to enrich Walker and finish Josh Hines-Allen. Playmakers are scarce on that facet of the ball, with no participant having multiple interception or fumble restoration.
The Jaguars will probably discover assist in free company or the NFL draft — the place they are going to have the No. 5 choose. — DiRocco
How attractive is the Jaguars job? Who are you listening to is likely to be ?
Many across the league imagine Jacksonville, on paper, is the perfect job, narrowly outshining Chicago. The roster has intriguing expertise on each side of the ball. Lawrence, regardless of his struggles, remains to be thought-about a top-half quarterback within the league. Coaching within the AFC South will probably be a draw, with Tennessee and Indianapolis very a lot in transition. Baalke staying on as basic supervisor will probably be an element.
The sentiment existed in some league circles that the Jaguars would make the head-coaching place extra fascinating by additionally opening the GM spot, signifying a whole reset. But even when Baalke’s retention limits the pool, that does not imply the Jaguars cannot get the precise coach.
Jacksonville has leaned offense in its previous few hires, so sticking with that theme, there are many younger coordinators who will match the invoice, together with the Lions’ Johnson, the Bucs’ Coen, the Bills’ Joe Brady, the Eagles’ Kellen Moore and the Texans’ Bobby Slowik.
The Chiefs’ Matt Nagy, the Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury and the Ravens’ Todd Monken match that description as nicely and have head-coaching expertise, one thing Jacksonville has valued in its previous three hires (Doug Marrone, Urban Meyer and Pederson).
Also, do not sleep on Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn right here. He’s thought-about one of many strongest candidates, and though he has been linked to the Jets’ and Saints’ jobs as a consequence of his historical past there, Jacksonville provides an excellent alternative that he’ll probably consider. — Jeremy Fowler
What place would possibly the brand new Jaguars teaching workers goal with the No. 5 choose?
As talked about above, that is an offense with thrilling younger gamers in Lawrence and Thomas, together with some strong expertise alongside the offensive line. There is room so as to add and spherical out the receiver room, nevertheless it’s apparent that the Jaguars need assistance on protection.
The excellent prospect to reply these questions? Travis Hunter, Colorado’s two-way, Heisman Trophy-winning star. His means as a shutdown cornerback — he had 4 interceptions in 2024 — and as a game-changing vast receiver would enable the Jaguars to examine off two containers with one draft choose. Hunter might begin on one facet of the ball and nonetheless have a heavy bundle of 20 or so performs on the opposite in a job that enables his particular instruments to shine. — Matt Miller
