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A16 sports
Wednesday 13 January 2021
Eagles fire coach Doug Pederson 3 years after Super Bowl win

tion of anonymity because
he wasn't authorized to dis-
cuss private conversations.
Wentz hasn't spoken to re-
porters since Dec. 6. He
didn't immediately return a
phone call from the AP on
Monday.
Pederson was a starting
quarterback in Philadelphia
in 1999 and later served as
an assistant coach under
Andy Reid with the Eagles
and Kansas City Chiefs. The
Eagles hired him in January
2016 after abruptly firing
Chip Kelly a month earlier.
Pederson led the Eagles
to a Super Bowl victory
over New England in just
his second season with
backup quarterback Nick
Foles filling in after Wentz
was injured. Pederson and
Foles again led the Eagles
to a playoff win the follow-
ing year after Wentz went
down late in the season.
"He's a close friend, he's a
family friend and Doug is
family to me," Lurie said.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson during the game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec.
27. 2020. Pederson was heavily criti-
Associated Press cized for his decision to re-
place Hurts with third-string
By ROB MAADDI of what we accomplished wide receiver J.J. Arcega- do to fix this right away and quarterback Nate Sudfeld
AP Pro Football Writer together," Pederson said in Whiteside over DK Metcalf what coaches can I have in the fourth quarter of a
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Doug a statement. in 2019 to selecting wide- that can help me get to a 20-14 loss to Washington in
Pederson lost his job less "Through all the ups and out Jalen Reagor one pick smoother 2021?" Week 17. Washington's vic-
than three years after he downs, one thing remained before Justin Jefferson in Pederson benched Wentz tory cost the New York Gi-
led the Philadelphia Eagles constant about our team 2020 contributed to the of- for the final four games af- ants the NFC East title. The
to the franchise's only Super — an unwavering commit- fense's struggles along with ter the quarterback had loss gave the Eagles the
Bowl title. ment to battle through ad- numerous injuries and quar- the worst season of his five- sixth overall pick in the draft
Pederson was 42-37-1 in versity and to achieve our terback Carson Wentz's year career and started instead of the ninth.
five seasons. He guided goals not as individuals, but poor performance. rookie Jalen Hurts. Peder- "Nothing to do with it what-
the Eagles to two division as a collective unit. There is Ultimately, Lurie chose son had said repeatedly he soever," Lurie said when
championships and three no better example of that Roseman over Pederson. was confident he could fix asked if Pederson's deci-
playoff appearances be- than when we celebrated "I have real confidence that Wentz and get him back sion in that game factored
fore going 4-11-1 in 2020. the first Super Bowl champi- our football operations, led on track. He won't get that into his dismissal.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie made onship in Eagles history to- by Howie, can not only re- chance now. Several Eagles showed
the decision after meeting gether with our city. That is peat the performance of Wentz's $128 million, four- their support for Pederson
with Pederson last week a memory we will all cherish 2016 until now, and once year contract kicks in this on social media after the
and again Monday. forever." again, create a dominant year and he knows the news broke.
"Very few people prob- Pederson's loyalty to his football team that can re- Eagles control whether "Doug is a great coach, a
ably after success deserve coaching staff and frustra- ally maximize every aspect to keep him or trade him. great guy, a great man,"
to lose their job," Lurie said. tion with the front office's of its potential," Lurie said. Wentz has been taking running back Boston Scott
"This is much more about interference became a Lurie indicated Pederson time away to reflect on his told the AP. "He's the type
the evaluation of whether major issue, according to wasn't on board with re- situation before meeting of guy that will open his
the Eagles moving forward, a person familiar with the building. with the team to discuss house up to you. He's a
our best option is to have a decision who spoke to The "It's a transition point and his future, a person close man of faith and I've al-
new coach and that's real- Associated Press on condi- we've got to get younger to the situation told the ways respected that about
ly what it's about. ... He did tion of anonymity because and we have to have a lot AP last week. Wentz was him. Every Saturday before
not deserve to be let go." of the sensitive nature of more volume of draft picks frustrated with his season games, I see him in chapel
Pederson had two years the conversations. The per- and we have to accumu- and unhappy that he got and that's where I truly be-
remaining on his contract. son also said Pederson and late as much talent as we benched, but he had no lieve it starts. I think that he's
Lurie said he wouldn't be general manager Howie possibly can that is going to input into Pederson's firing, a true leader. Regardless of
surprised if another team Roseman weren't on the work in the long run with a two people said. what the situation was like
hired Pederson before the same page regarding focus on the midterm and "Carson and Doug got this season, he continued
end of the week. many personnel moves, in- the long term and not on along way better than peo- to bring energy, continued
"Although I am disappoint- cluding draft picks and use how to maximize 2021," Lu- ple think," a teammate told to bring the juice and he
ed that this chapter of my of veteran players. rie said. "And it's almost not the AP on Monday. "That continued to be there for
career has come to an The team's draft failures in fair to Doug, because his vi- stuff got exaggerated." us so I have a lot of respect
end, I am extremely proud recent years from taking sion has to be: what can I The player spoke on condi- for him."q