The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired head coach Doug Pederson after the team’s 4-13 finish to the 2024 NFL season.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that the Jags have moved on from Pederson after three seasons in charge.
The news arrives on the first day following the conclusion of the regular season, which typically sees a number of teams across the league make coaching changes. He becomes the second coach to be dismissed following Week 18, with the New England Patriots also firing Jerod Mayo after just one season in charge on Sunday night.
Pederson leaves with a record of 22-29 after being appointed as Jaguars head coach ahead of the 2022 campaign, during which he led the team to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Jacksonville have since failed to build on their early momentum under Pederson, missing out on the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024.
“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,” said owner Shad Khan in a statement.
“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.”
Parker Washington produced the longest punt return in Jacksonville Jaguars history and the longest touchdown in NFL London games history as he ran back a 96-yard return at Wembley Stadium in Week Seven.
The Jaguars have meanwhile retained general manager Trent Baalke, with whom Khan said he would collaborate “to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville”.
Khan had said last July that he believed this was the “best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever” led by former No 1 pick quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who signed a five-year, $275m extension ahead of the 2024 season.
Pederson had been deemed an ideal suitor to help Lawrence assert himself among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, but would divide opinion after handing over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Press Taylor. The Jaguars finished the 2024 campaign ranked 25th in total yards, 21st in passing and 26th in scoring.
Lawrence meanwhile threw for just 2,045 yards and 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions in a campaign disrupted first by a shoulder injury before being ended by a concussion.
Pederson had previously reached the playoffs in three of five seasons in charge of the Philadelphia Eagles, notably winning Super Bowl LII with victory over the New England Patriots.
