Pederson still wants to coach in NFL again, determined to win another title
Doug Pederson remains intent on earning another shot at being an NFL head coach, although he opted to sit out the 2021 season instead of pursuing other opportunities following a tumultuous end to his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"The competitor inside wants to continue to compete," Pederson said Monday on "The Anthony Gargano Show" on 97.5 The Fanatic. "Hopefully, I get an opportunity to lead another football team and do the same things again and learn from the last five years - what a great teaching moment for me. I always talk about - we learn from failures and different things like that. I don't want to say that this was a failure, but at the same time, I want to learn from the last five years."
Pederson was fired in January following a 4-11-1 season, just three years after leading Philadelphia to its first championship in franchise history.
His exit reportedly stemmed not only from his worst finish in five years in charge of the Eagles but also irreparable issues with the team's leadership and then-franchise quarterback Carson Wentz.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman apparently "ridiculed and criticized" Pederson's decision-making during weekly meetings.
Lurie and Pederson reportedly also clashed over changes to the coaching staff in a meeting following the 2019 season: Pederson wanted to keep former offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach Carson Walch, but Lurie said they had to be fired or Pederson would be relieved of his duties. Groh and Walch were fired the day after Lurie's ultimatum.
Meanwhile, Wentz and Pederson reportedly didn't talk for "weeks on end" during the 2020 season as their relationship deteriorated beyond repair.
Wentz endured the worst campaign of his career, and despite the firing of Pederson being perceived as an attempt to help the quarterback, he requested a trade and was ultimately shipped off to the Indianapolis Colts in March.
Though Pederson is confident his legacy in Philadelphia is secure thanks to the win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, he said the victory drives his desire to lead a team once again.
"I'll be defined in Philadelphia for my wins and losses," the 53-year-old said. "Obviously, the championship is huge. But for me ... I feel like if I get another opportunity, I want to do it again. I went to two Super Bowls as a player in Green Bay, and then obviously now being a coach in Philadelphia, and so three Super Bowls, and when it gets in your system like that, it's just hard to turn that off."