JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The head coaching carousel continues in Duval, as Doug Pederson is out as head coach after three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pederson posted 22 wins and 29 losses over his tenure with the team, while struggling through a 4-13 record this year, tied for second worst in the league.
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Jaguars fans Action News Jax spoke to Monday morning say it was about time for change.
“It had to be done,” Jaguars fan Brennan Wheatley said. “Seemed like the relationship with Trevor [Lawrence] fell apart … can’t have that. Franchise guy, gotta prioritize quarterback.”
“You give people a chance, and if it doesn’t work out over a certain length of time, it’s time to move on,” Gartrell Milam said.
Now, the search begins for the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, with candidates like Detroit Lions play-caller Ben Johnson, and former playoff-winning coach for the Tennessee Titans Mike Vrabel on the market.
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“I prefer Vrabel, but I don’t think we’ll be able to get either,” Wheatley said. “So we’ll see.”
Nonetheless, Jags fans Action News Jax spoke to Monday say they feel Pederson’s firing does bring a bit of renewed hope for the future direction of the franchise. Although the decision of team owner Shad Khan to keep general manager Trent Baalke is one fans say clouds that optimism of what lies ahead.
“They need to clean house. And I think they actually should have let Trent [Baalke] go as well,” Milam said.
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“I think a new coach, if he can come in and shift the culture a little bit, I think he could probably turn it around, but it is tough with the head guy staying the same to get that culture change,” Wheatley said.
In his statement released Monday morning, Khan said he now, “strongly believes it is possible to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago.”
Now, the team now looks ahead to what will could be a high-stakes offseason, looking for the next head coach of the franchise with the number five pick in the NFL draft come April.
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