The writing appears to be on the wall for Doug Pederson. After two seasons of diminished results, the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to move on from him. Ahead of the finale, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that they've been putting in the work to look for his potential replacement. That isn't necessarily surprising. What stands out is that she believes the Jags will make a run at an under-the-radar candidate.
Russini shared everything she's hearing ahead of the offseason and says that Jacksonville has been laying out the groundwork to dismiss Pederson amid chatter that he could keep his job if he finished strong. On top of that, she mentions Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver as candidates to keep an eye on.
"While many around the league expected Doug Pederson’s time in Jacksonville to end midseason, the Jaguars chose to ride it out instead. While that might suggest ownership is open to giving Pederson more time, sources say Jacksonville has quietly started laying the groundwork for a coaching search. If the job officially opens up, I’d expect names like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to be connected to the Jags."
The Jaguars have been linked to Ben Johnson heavily ahead of the offseason, so it's not particularly shocking that Rusini thinks they'll pursue him. On the other hand, Anthony Weaver hasn't really been discussed as Pederson's heir apparent.
Weaver, a former NFL player, got started as a graduate assistant with Florida in 2020. He became the linebackers coach at North Texas one year later and made the leap to the pros in 2012. After spending several years as a defensive line coach for the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans, and the Baltimore Ravens, he became the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
Under Weaver, the Phins went from 23rd in points allowed in 2023 to eight in the league this season. Certainly, he's had a positive impact on the defense, so he could end up being a worthy candidate. Heck, he was dubbed a young coach to watch in the next hiring cycle as recently as November, so his rise in ranks isn't necessarily shocking. What's surprising is that the Jaguars will potentially consider him for their vacancy.
It doesn't hurt the Jaguars to do due diligence in the Anthony Weaver
Fortunately for the Jacksonville Jaguars, their interest in the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator appears to be mutual. He would be a great option to replace Doug Pederson, but if they fail to land him, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen would be an intriguing alternative. Having said that, the Jags must not overlook Anthony Weaver.
Sure, the team's biggest priority must be Trevor Lawrence and finding someone who can squeeze every ounce out of him. But maybe they can fall in love with Weaver's vision, and who's to say he doesn't have a plan for the start quarterback? He surely has an idea of who will be his offensive coordinator, and the Jags should most definitely listen.
Moreover, the Jags' defense needs a makeover. Even though they have ample talent, they've had a hard time stopping opposing teams from scoring. That falls on Ryan Nielsen, who talked about putting an emphasis on fundamentals and technique when he was hired but has instead fielded a group that has lacked discipline more often than not. Weaver's background could certainly be of help.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars must conduct an extensive search to look for Doug Pederson's replacement. Ben Johnson seems to be the favorite and rightly so, but they should also kick the tires on Anthony Weaver and other candidates to ensure they end up with the best of the bunch.