Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Doug Pederson reiterates Khan's words about expectations to win
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars HC Doug Pederson reiterates Khan's words about expectations to win
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson takes owner Shad Khan 's words to heart.
Just before training camp in late July, Khan spoke in front of the entire roster in the team meeting room and reiterated that his expectation for this season is for the team to win.
Advertisement
"I was not misquoted," Khan told the team via The Hunt regarding what he said to reporters shortly after the team and the City of Jacksonville agreed on a deal to renovate EverBank Stadium. "Winning now is the expectation. Make no mistake, this is the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars , ever. Best players, best coaches, but most importantly let's prove it by winning now."
QUESTION ANSWERED?: Who will call plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 vs. the Miami Dolphins?
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Doug Pederson looks on as Shad Khan, Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, speaks during a press conference introducing him as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Stadium on February 05, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
When meeting with the media via Zoom on Monday morning before the team's Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins , Pederson reiterated what Khan said, noting that the expectation is always to win.
Advertisement
"I think he's right on, I think that is our expectation [to win]. It's always our expectation," Pederson said.
"You put together, and you assemble the best team, the best set of coaches and you gotta put in the time, you gotta work hard... [Khan] sees what we've done the last two years and the successes we've had, but he also knows, and we know, that we're better than the way we finished last year. I think that's something he alluded to, but he's right. That's the expectation and we're all held to that."
The Jaguars began last season with an 8-3 record and one step away from the No. 1 seed in the AFC South. The team faltered down the stretch, though, finishing 1-5 and a second-straight 9-8 record. Unlike in 2022, the record came without a playoff birth. Jacksonville needed just two wins down the stretch to reach the postseason.
Under Khan's ownership, the Jaguars have gone 60-135. In the first five seasons of Khan's tenure, the team did not post more than five wins in a single season. In 12 years as owner, Khan's Jaguars have posted just three seasons with winning records.
Advertisement
Two out of three winning seasons have come in the last two years under head coach Doug Pederson with 9-8 records.
Khans words carry more weight this season than ever before after he handed out roughly $301 million in guaranteed money this year between 10 players.
The guaranteed money includes free agent acquisitions, receivers Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay , defensive backs Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage , defensive lineman Arik Armstead and center Mitch Morse along with in-house contract extensions for quarterback Trevor Lawrence , DL Josh Hines-Allen , CB Tyson Campbell and LB Foye Oluokun .
All 10 players will be key contributors on the team this season as starters. Duvernay is the lone exception, though he will be the "starting" return specialist.
Advertisement
Khan's support and confidence in the team, both explicit and implicit, have been acknowledged by all players and coaches.
Still, what matters most is what the Jaguars do on the field. First up is the Dolphins on Sunday. Pederson says that while Khan's words spark a lot of confidence, actions by the team will speak louder.
"It's a matter of, we just got to go do it. As they say, talking is over and you gotta go put in the hard work and preparation and try to go 1-0 this week," Pederson said.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
Advertisement
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Doug Pederson echos Shad Khan: Winning is the expectation
