Doug Pederson
Head Coach — Philadelphia Eagles
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About Doug Pederson
Doug Pederson's entire legacy as Philadelphia Eagles head coach comes down to one sentence spoken into a headset on fourth-and-goal in the Super Bowl: "You want Philly Philly?" That play call, the Philly Special, turned a career backup quarterback turned first-time head coach into the most consequential decision-maker in franchise history. Pederson caught a pass from a backup quarterback in a trick play on the biggest stage in American sports, and it worked, and that is how the Eagles won their first Super Bowl. The man ate ice cream after wins like a Little Leaguer celebrating at Dairy Queen. He once brought a tub of vanilla to a press conference. The vibes were immaculate.
The firing is what makes the story complicated. After the Super Bowl high wore off and the roster deteriorated, Pederson's Eagles bottomed out with a widely suspected tank job in 2020 that enraged the entire NFC East. Jeffrey Lurie let him go, he landed in Jacksonville, and Philly fans were left holding the weirdest emotional bag in NFL coaching history. They love the man for one play call. They understand the firing. They cannot reconcile that the coach who made the gutsiest call in Super Bowl history also presided over Carson Wentz's total collapse and a season that looked like organized surrender. The ice cream was good while it lasted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Philly Special and why does it define Doug Pederson?
The Philly Special was a trick play called on fourth-and-goal in Super Bowl LII. Nick Foles lined up as a receiver, Corey Clement took a direct snap, flipped it to Trey Burton, who threw a touchdown pass to Foles. The play itself was audacious. The context made it legendary. Pederson called it on fourth down in the Super Bowl against Bill Belichick's Patriots with the game on the line. Tom Brady's Patriots had just kicked a field goal in a similar situation. Pederson went for the touchdown. It worked. One decision, one play, one coach forever attached to it.
Why was Doug Pederson fired after winning a Super Bowl?
The seasons after Super Bowl LII went downhill fast. Carson Wentz regressed from MVP candidate to barely functional. The 2020 season ended with a 4-11-1 record and a Week 17 loss to Washington where Pederson pulled Jalen Hurts for Nate Sudfeld, a move widely interpreted as tanking for draft position. Owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly lost confidence in Pederson's staff decisions and offensive direction. Pederson was let go, hired by Jacksonville, and Philly fans were left with the strangest coaching breakup of the decade. A Super Bowl winner fired within three years of the trophy.
Last updated: April 2026