Staley promotes idea of Pederson’s return
If it was Duce Staley’s cally, the Eagles’ assistant head coach would bring back Doug Pederson in 2021.
Staley appreciates what Pederson has done for the Eagles’ coaching staff along with the courage to change starting quarterbacks.
“I mean, I can’t speak for everybody,” Staley said Friday. “All I know is Doug is a hell of a coach. He’s been a hell of a coach for this organization, bringing a Super Bowl, of course. I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want him to go anywhere. And all the assistant coaches, they feel the same. And I’m speaking for them right now.”
The remarks are interesting in that Staley has the ear of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. With up to seven head coaching vacancies at the end of the season, Staley will likely be interviewing for at least one of those jobs. Staley took over this season when Pederson was sidelined by COVID-19.
Only two head coaches have been fired or let go within three seasons of winning a Super Bowl. They would be the late Don McCafferty, who guided the Baltimore Colts to the 1970 Super Bowl title and George Seifert of the San Francisco 49ers, who won it all in 1994.
Pederson is in the unenviable position of igniting a quarterback controversy by playing rookie Jalen Hurts over slumping veteran Carson Wentz, who the Eagles are financially committed to. Wentz is in the first year of a fouryear, $128 million contract, much of it guaranteed.
Though Pederson made the decision, he consulted with select staff before making it public.
“As far as what he’s done for us, giving us the opportunity to have a voice, giving us an opportunity to do certain things, it’s been awesome,” Staley said. “And every coach will tell you