As Khan’s assertion notes, Baalke will stay in place for 2025. The previous 49ers GM has been on the helm of the Jaguars since 2021, predating Pederson’s arrival. The collective struggles the pair has endured over the previous two years led many to imagine sweeping adjustments may very well be made this offseason.
Main as much as “Black Monday,” nevertheless, it remained unclear which manner Khan was leaning. Whereas many across the league predicted Baalke can be dismissed, the information of Pederson’s firing comes as no shock.
Jacksonville went 9-8 in Pederson’s first yr with the workforce, and a run to the divisional spherical of the playoffs provided optimism he and quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be capable of string collectively a sustained run of success.
Issues took a downward flip final yr, although, with a second-half collapse leaving the workforce out of the playoffs. Pederson, thus, more and more discovered himself on the recent seat because the 2024 marketing campaign progressed.
Khan made it clear he had excessive expectations for the Jaguars based mostly on their roster, however the workforce began 0-4. A playoff berth was, subsequently, out of attain early, and Pederson discovered himself among the many coaches at risk of being fired midway through the campaign.
Khan remained affected person on that entrance, as he usually has throughout his possession tenure. Nonetheless, indicators continued to level to dismissal after the marketing campaign, the newest being assistants on Pederson’s workers admitting they expected major changes to be made.
With a 4-13 season within the books (leaving Pederson with an total mark of 22-29 in Duval County), that has now proved to be the case. The Jaguars be a part of the Jets, Saints, Bears and Patriots as groups in want of a brand new coach, and Khan — who has not been in contact with potential candidates yet — will start his newest search. Apparently, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes the Jags’ subsequent coach will report on to Khan, not Baalke.
Stories of a rift between Baalke and Pederson emerged in September, so a training change bringing with it a brand new energy construction within the group is a notable growth. With Lawrence on the books long run, discovering a coach able to maximizing his potential will probably be an apparent precedence (though that was, after all, additionally the case when Pederson was employed). Whereas Baalke is secure for now, he’ll little doubt stay the topic of scrutiny shifting ahead.
Pederson, 56, spent 5 seasons on the helm of the Eagles. That stretch included a Tremendous Bowl championship, and after solely a one-year absence following his Philadelphia dismissal, he took one other HC gig with Jacksonville. It is going to be fascinating to see how he proceeds in the course of the 2025 hiring cycle as one of the vital skilled coaches available on the market.
