The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday the dismissal of head coach Doug Pederson following a disappointing 4-13 season. Despite Pederson’s firing, general manager Trent Baalke will remain with the team for the final year of his contract.
Pederson’s departure comes after a season marked by steep underperformance and a series of lopsided defeats that tarnished the once-high hopes of owner Shad Khan. Khan had declared the 2024 roster as the “best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever,” expressing playoff expectations during the preseason. However, the Jaguars faltered, extending a streak of 18 losses in their last 23 games and cementing their position as one of the league’s bottom teams.
Pederson, who led the Jaguars to an AFC South title and a stunning wild-card playoff comeback in 2022, appeared poised for sustained success. The Jaguars rallied from a 27-0 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. However, after an 8-3 start to the 2023 season, the team collapsed, finishing 1-5 and missing the playoffs.
This downward trend spilled into 2024, with embarrassing losses to Buffalo on Monday Night Football and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ Chicago Bears in London. A 52-6 defeat to Detroit in November set a franchise record for the largest margin of defeat and exposed glaring weaknesses in the defense, which ranked 31st in the NFL in total yards allowed (389.9 per game) and dead last in passing yards allowed (257.4 per game).
Criticism of Pederson intensified over his decision to grant offensive coordinator Press Taylor full play-calling responsibilities in 2023. Despite calls for reevaluation, Pederson stuck with Taylor, whose offense ranked 25th in the league in total yards (305.8 per game) and 21st in third-down efficiency (37.3%). Injuries to key players, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence, receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis, and tight end Evan Engram, exacerbated the team’s offensive struggles.
Backup quarterback Mac Jones, who started seven games in Lawrence’s absence, failed to provide stability, averaging just 15 points per game. Despite the setbacks, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. emerged as a standout, setting franchise rookie records with 87 receptions, 1,282 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
While Pederson takes the fall for the Jaguars’ failures, Baalke remains a polarizing figure. Since joining the organization in 2020, Baalke’s tenure has included the selection of Lawrence as the No. 1 overall pick and signing one of the team’s best free-agent classes. However, his decision to draft Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson in 2022 and a disappointing 2024 free-agent class have drawn criticism.
Baalke’s draft picks from 2021-24 have produced nine full-time starters, including Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr., and rookie sensation Thomas. Yet, the team has struggled to establish a consistent identity on both sides of the ball.
With Pederson’s firing, Shad Khan will now embark on his sixth head coaching search since purchasing the team in 2011. The move underscores the volatility within the organization as it seeks stability and success in a competitive AFC landscape.
As the Jaguars prepare for the offseason, questions loom about Baalke’s future, the next head coach, and the team’s ability to rebuild after another tumultuous year. For now, the focus shifts to restoring hope in Jacksonville, a city desperate for a winning football team.
