Jaguars HC Doug Pederson has strong case for NFL Coach of the Year but he’s not a lock

Doug Pederson has a strong case for winning the NFL Head Coach of the Year Award after helping the Jacksonville Jaguars make the playoffs and winning the AFC South for the first time since 2017. However, there are other candidates deserving of consideration.

The Jags improved immensely in Pederson’s first year at the helm, going from 3-14 to finishing 9-8 and earning a postseason berth. Moreover, Jacksonville ended several undesirable streaks in 2022. They beat the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium for the first time in 2023. Similarly, their win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 put an end to a 20-game losing skid to NFC teams.

Then, there’s the fact the Jaguars finished the season riding a five-game winning streak, their longest since 2005. Simply, the organization hit it out of the ballpark when they hired Pederson. He’s helped the Jags heal after the Urban Meyer fiasco and has put his players in a position to succeed. Trevor Lawrence stands out the most but players such as safety Rayshawn Jenkins and right tackle Jawaan Taylor have also improved considerably under Pederson’s guidance.

On the other hand, Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles), Brian Daboll (New York Giants), and Kyle Shannahan have gotten their respective teams to their top. Philly is a favorite to make the Super Bowl and Sirianni’s coaching is a big reason why. The Giants experienced a turnaround under Daboll and did it with a less talented quarterback, Daniel Jones, and fewer weapons on offense than the Jags. Last but not least, the Niners are one of the best teams in the league despite the fact that they’re down to their third-string quarterback, rookie sensation Brock Purdy.

Can Jaguars HC Doug Pederson be the Head Coach of the Year?

Pederson’s case for Coach of the Year honors is as strong as anyone but he’ll be facing serious competition. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him win but it wouldn’t be surprising if he doesn’t. Can you really say he was snubbed if Sirianni wins? The Eagles have the best record in the league, and that’s a pretty good reason to give him the award.

Daboll got the most out of Daniel Jones and he did it with a limited supporting cast. Running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Richie James led the team with 57 receptions each. Had the Giants had a No. 1 receiver, Jones might have been even better.

Doug Pederson deserves plenty of praise for the Jags’ turnaround, which is why he should be named the Coach of the Year but if he’s ultimately passed over, that won’t undo all the things he did in 2022.