Doug Pederson lands head coach job with Jacksonville Jaguars, reports say

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Imag

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Doug Pederson as their head coach, ending a wild and winding search that ended up where it started more than a month ago.

A formal announcement is planned for Friday, according to a person familiar with the search. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a contract has not been signed.

Pederson, who led Philadelphia to its lone Super Bowl title, was Jacksonville's first candidate interviewed when he met with owner Shad Khan and general manager Trent Baalke on Dec. 30. He waited more than month for a callback. He got a second interview Tuesday and landed the job two days later.

The 54-year-old Pederson takes over for Urban Meyer, who was fired after 13 games and countless missteps in what will go down as one of the worst coaching tenures in NFL history. He joins Baalke in a pairing that's sure to irk a vocal segment of the fan base.

Baalke remaining in his GM role caused some candidates to hesitate about the job and several former players to openly question Khan's search. Running back Fred Taylor, receiver Jimmy Smith, safety Donovin Darius, guard Uche Nwaneri and kicker Josh Scobee expressed concern with the direction of the franchise.

Pederson ultimately got the nod over former NFL coaches Jim Caldwell and Bill O'Brien, current/former coordinators Byron Leftwich, Nathaniel Hackett, Matt Eberflus, Todd Bowles, Kellen Moore, and Jaguars offensive coordinator/interim head coach Darrell Bevell. Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn declined an interview request, presumably because he preferred not to work with Baalke.

Discussions with Leftwich broke down for similar reasons, according to another person familiar with the process.

Former Las Vegas interim coach Rich Bisaccia and fired Denver coach Vic Fangio also interviewed and could end up being hired as coordinators.

Pederson led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl following the 2017 season and made the playoffs three times in five seasons. The Eagles went 4-11-1 in his final year.

Pederson was 51-34-1 in Philly, including 4-2 in the postseason. Before that, he served three seasons (2013-15) as Kansas City's offensive coordinator and made the playoffs twice.

In Jacksonville, he'll be tasked with ending the team's woeful ways and getting the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.