Doug Pederson's future with the Jaguars likely coming down to outcome vs. Lions

There's a strong chance the Jacksonville Jaguars will make a decision on Doug Pederson soon. The head coach is on the hot seat in light of an underwhelming season, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media believes he could be dismissed following the game against the Detroit Lions in Week 11.

Rapoport reported one day before the Lions game that the Jags could be making a change at head coach before the BYE, pointing out that the extra time off would allow the team to regroup. If Jacksonville moves on from Pederson, the NFL insider brings up quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy as a potential interim.

"Inside the building, several sources say change, including the organization potentially moving on from Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, would not be a surprise. Based on several conversations, while Jaguars staffers are still working and grinding, there is a pall permeating the situation. A doom."

The thought of appointing McCoy is noteworthy because that means the Jags wouldn't give offensive coordinator Press Taylor consideration as the interim. Taylor and the head coach are close, with Pederson coming to bat for Taylor several times. It wouldn't be shocking if the organization decided to move on from him as well.

"If Pederson is out, QB coach Mike McCoy does have head-coaching experience and could be the one to step in, having coached the Chargers from 2013-16."

If the Jaguars do pull the trigger, general manager Trent Baalke could also be gone. Rapoport says he wouldn't be surprised if that's the course of action the team takes.

"Whether a dramatic coaching move with Pederson, a front office move centered around Baalke or a full house-cleaning comes this upcoming week following a possible loss to Detroit, those inside the building feel like it's almost inevitable."

Something notable about Rapoport's report is that he says the Jaguars haven't resorted to finger-pointing, pointing out that a collective feeling of despair and resignation among the coaching staff and the front office is palpable. This isn't very different from what insider Josina Anderson reported.

The same day Rapoport discussed the state of the Jaguars, Anderson reported on Twitter that several front offices across the NFL are already "preparing for their departure with advance conversations (one, way earlier in the year than you wouldn't think..,"

Anderson goes on to say that backroom conversations have already started and later attached a previous report about the Jaguars, in which she said owner Shad Khan would rather make a decision on the fate of Pederson after the season but could do it after the Detroit game if Jacksonville is embarrassed.

This is a likely scenario when you take into account that the Jags are a 13-point underdog and the Lions are coming off a gritty win over the Houston Texans.

Moving on from Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke seems inevitable for the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars were expected to bounce back this season after a disappointing end to 2023. Looking to compete for a playoff spot and the AFC South title, they revamped the roster and the coaching staff in the offseason. Owner Shad Khan was so confident about the changes that he called the 2024 Jaguars the most talented team in franchise history. Unfortunately, they've failed to meet expectations.

So far, Jacksonville has won only two games and is riding a three-game losing streak. While they've been competitive and taken things down to the wire the past three weeks, they've ultimately come up short. That's not the sign of a good team, but leaving aside the Jags' record, it doesn't look like Doug Pederson and the players are on the same page.

Following the loss to the Houston Texans, a report about the head coach losing the locker room surfaced. He vehemently denied it, and several team leaders stood behind him. A few weeks later, Pederson threw players under the bus to defend protegee Press Taylor. Around the same time, safety Andre Cisco said that he could see some of his teammates had quit. More recently, he got testy and questioned the local media's ability to discuss football plays.

Perhaps the losing is taking a toll on the head coach but that's no reason to lash out at the press corps. Either way, he's not the only one that deserves blame for the team's subpar performance. Trent Baalke — known as a divisive figure around the league — didn't do enough to bolster the roster in the offseason.

Granted, Pederson and Baalke led the Jaguars to the playoffs and a division title in 2022 but have failed to enjoy sustained success the past two seasons. In a league where you need to constantly prove yourself, the head coach and the general manager have failed, which is why the Jaguars are seemingly ready to move on from them.

More Jaguars analysis here: