3 reasons to be optimistic about Jacksonville Jaguars Super Bowl chances next year

2. Doug Pederson know what it takes to get to the Super Bowl (and win it)

When the Jaguars dismissed Doug Marrone, owner Shad Khan courted Urban Meyer instead of running a diligent search. Looking back, that was one of the biggest mistakes he and the organization could've made, as Meyer went on to sink Jacksonville even lower. Fortunately, Khan realized how badly he messed up and kicked him to the curb less than a year after hiring him. To replace him, the Jags brought in Doug Pederson.

Pederson, a former player, started his coaching career as an assistant in Andy Reid's staff. He worked his way up to defensive coordinator and became the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. Against expectations, he took Philly to the Super Bowl and beat the New England Patriots on the biggest stage in 2017. The fact that he did it with backup quarterback Nick Foles at the helm showed just how good he was.

But despite making the playoffs three straight seasons, Pederson walked away in 2020. One big reason was that he wasn't permitted to choose his staff, so he opted to leave. After a one-year hiatus, he was back in the gridiron, now with the Jaguars, and had his work cut out, having to heal a broken team that Meyer tore apart.

Given their lack of talent, Jacksonville was seen as a rebuilding project entering the 2022 season. They managed to exceed expectations, seizing the AFC South, and making the playoffs in Pederson's first year at the helm. Although they fell short of reaching the championship game, they responded positively to Doug Pederson.

Last season, Pederson wasn't able to get his message across but the prospect of failing to make the playoffs for the second year in a row should incentivize him and his players to be at the top of their game in 2024. After all, this isn't Pederson's first rodeo, and he surely knows how to bounce back from an underwhelming season.