The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to cut ties with head coach Doug Pederson if they lose to the Detroit Lions and go 2-9 today, according to reports.
The Jags have endured a woeful start to the 2024 season and are heavy underdogs in Detroit this afternoon.
And according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, a loss could be the end of the road for Pederson, with owner Shad Khan ready to make a change.
He reports that the dramatic mid-season move could come as soon as this week, with Jacksonville heading for a bye and this seen as the best time to regroup.
It is understood that owner Khan believes this is the ‘best-assembled team in franchise history’, and he is frustrated at the awful 2-8 start.
The team went into this season with huge expectations, with newly-paid QB Trevor Lawrence and several high-profile free agents brought in to bolster the ranks.
Doug Pederson is likely to be fired if the Jaguars lose in Detroit on Sunday afternoon
The Jags will be without QB1 Trevor Lawrence, who is dealing with a shoulder injury
Heading to Detroit, Lawrence is out with a shoulder injury, meaning former Patriots flop Mac Jones will be operating as quarterback.
It is also believed that general manager Trent Baalke could also be moved on, and it would ‘not be a surprise’ if he left at the same time as Pederson, per NFL Network.
The Jags have lost four of their last five games, and face the Texans and Titans in the weeks following the trip to Detroit.
Last week, the team put up just seven points against the Vikings, and prior to that had seen narrow losses to the Eagles and Packers.
Pederson has been Jaguars coach since the start of the 2022 season, going 9-8 in both 2022 and 2023.
In 2022 that record got the team to the playoffs, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Game.
Owner Shahid Khan reportedly believes this is the best-assembled roster in Jaguars history
In 2023, the improved 10-7 Houston Texans won the division, leaving the Jags on the outside looking in despite their winning record.
If Pederson and/or Baalke are let go, it would not be the first time the Jaguars have made a mid-season change to their coaching staff.
Back in 2020, general manager Dave Caldwell was fired amid the team’s poor form, with Baalke brought in as interim GM.
In 2021, Urban Meyer was fired as head coach less than one year into a disastrous spell, with Darrell Bevell installed as interim coach.
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