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Doug Pederson fired: Jacksonville Jaguars players appreciate coach, understand move
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- Doug Pederson fired: Jacksonville Jaguars players appreciate coach, understand move
The firing of former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson did not come as a surprise to most players. Pederson was let go on Monday morning after a 4-13 season and a 22-29 record overall as head coach of the Jaguars .
The team elected to keep general manager Trent Baalke , opting for only a half reset instead of completely cleaning house.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson hugs Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) after Saturday night's victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Tennessee Titans to decide the AFC South championship at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL, Saturday, January 7, 2023. The Jaguars went into the half trailing 7 to 13 but came back to win with a final score of 20 to 16. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM: Jacksonville Jaguars players take blame for bad season leading to Doug Pederson firing
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"I think he's one of the better coaches to have coached in this league," wide receiver Christian Kirk said from the locker room Monday. "It's just unfortunate the way that things went. But obviously the organization has to make a decision that they feel is best going forward."
Kirk signed with the team in 2022 as part of a free agent class of players that joined the Jaguars during Pederson's first season with the team. He went on to record career highs in targets, catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in his first year with Jacksonville.
Travon Walker on Doug Pederson's firing: 'I wouldn't wish that on anybody'
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks to first round draft pick Travon Walker as they laugh at a light-hearted moment during a press conference Friday, April 29, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Walker, a defensive lineman from the University of Georgia, was the overall No. 1 pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
But it's not just Kirk who had that opinion of his former head coach. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft class , Travon Walker, shared similar sentiments on Monday.
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"He's done some great things with this organization, and he's a great guy, great coach," Walker said. "I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but you know, it's life. We all faced with obstacles in life and we just got to keep going."
Walker was Pederson's first draft pick as Jaguars head coach. He noted how Pederson believed in him and brought him to Jacksonville because of that fact.
After a down rookie season, he recorded back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks in the last two seasons. He'll be eligible for a contract extension this offseason and is likely in-line to receive his second contract from the franchise.
Travis Etienne on Doug Pederson's firing: 'Just kind of how the business goes'
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Running back Travis Etienne got the news from a group chat with a friend . He said he did not really have a reaction when he saw it.
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"Just kind of how the business goes," Etienne said. "We're here to produce results. We haven't produced some results these past two seasons. Just how the business goes."
Etienne missed his rookie season in the league. He became the starting running back for the Jaguars under Pederson, racing his way to two 1,000-yard seasons in his second and third year in the league.
Pederson let go of running backs coach Bernie Parmalee last offseason and Etienne had a down season this year. Still, Etienne acknowledged the impact Pederson had on the team during his tenure.
SO WHAT'S NEXT? Jaguars fire Doug Pederson: How long before they hire a new head coach?
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"We appreciate Doug, everything he's done for us," Etienne said. "We went to the playoffs, he changed things around. He gave us a coach, he gave us something to see, something to hope for the future, and we appreciate him for that."
Andre Cisco on Doug Pederson's firing: 'Doug's probably the best head coach I've had'
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) runs onto the field before a regular season NFL football matchup Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 in overtime. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Safety Andre Cisco is slated to be a free agent this offseason. He's in the same draft class as Etienne, but did not receive his fifth-year option picked up or a contract extension.
But he clearly will be impacted by Pederson's tenure no matter his future.
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"Doug's probably the best head coach I've had," Cisco said on Monday.
Cisco joined the Jaguars in 2021. He never fully caught on as the team dealt with Urban Meyer and his disfunction. But Cisco has been a consistent starter under Pederson.
And even further, he learned about what the "NFL is supposed to be like" as he described from the locker room on Monday.
"Wherever I end up, whether it's here, somewhere else," Cisco continued. "Whatever program I'm under, he set the foundation for my career in terms of how it's supposed to look in the grind and how you prepare."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Doug Pederson fired: Jacksonville Jaguars think world of fired coach
