3 Immediate reactions as Philadelphia Eagles fire Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson is out as Eagles head coach, per sources.

Black Monday came a week late for one of the NFL’s most-talked-about head coaches. According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the news originally reported by Chris Mortensen had some credence. It’s official. Doug Pederson is out as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

If you’re a Birds fan, you already know that though. What you might disagree on is the following. This was the best move for the franchise. Here’s the reason why and two theories on what might come next.

1. He didn’t just burn the relationship with Carson Wentz.

Regardless of where you stood on Doug’s leadership, what may or may not have happened with Carson Wentz,  or the decision he made in Week 17, the fact of the matter is this. If the theories about his fractured relationship with Carson Wentz are true, he may have burned the bridge with Jalen Hurts as well.

They may not ever say this publicly, but at ITI, we look past what people say and we read body language. Here’s what the body language told us about the Birds in the fourth quarter of Week 17. No one liked the head coach’s decision to bench Jalen Hurts. You can argue that he lost the team officially at that moment.

No, Philly wasn’t earning a playoff berth, but here’s what got lost in the ‘need to see what Nate Sudfeld had’. We also needed to see more from Hurts. Was the rookie capable of willing this team to victory in the fourth quarter? Wasn’t that more important? Doug is a former quarterback. What in the world was he thinking? Yes, he should have known better.

2. Carson Wentz isn’t going anywhere.

If you subscribed to the theory that there was no way Carson Wentz could return if Doug Pederson was the coach, where are you now? Can we also state that a new head coaching regime also means that the organization has chosen 11 over their head coach of the past five seasons?

It isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Don’t be surprised if the narrative now is a new offensive-minded head coach, one that brings an offensive coordinator with him is exactly the shot in the arm that Carson Wentz needs.

An initial guess is this. Wentz isn’t going anywhere.

3. Might he be the Jets’ next head coach?

Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, and the New York Jets headline the list of teams that need head coaches. Doug Pederson is familiar with Jets general manager Joe Douglas. This is a natural fit, and if New York still believes that Sam Darnold is the guy to help lead them into the future, Doug Pederson might get a shot to redeem himself.

Don’t rule that one out. We’ll see if any rumors of Doug trading one shade of green for another pick up any steam. Remember when Rich Kotitie left and landed in the Big Apple. Could history repeat itself?