Doug Pederson Says He's 'Leaning Toward' Taking 2021 off After Eagles Firing

Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday he's "leaning toward taking the next year off and preparing for [the] next season."

Pederson provided the update to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who noted the Super Bowl LII-winning coach hasn't been linked to the Houston Texans, the only head coaching vacancy remaining outside Philly.

The 52-year-old Washington native has been linked to the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator job, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, but it appears the Hawks are casting a wide net in their search to replace Brian Schottenheimer.

Pederson guided the Eagles to a 42-37-1 record across five seasons. After going 7-9 in his first year, the club posted a 13-3 mark in 2017 before going on to win the Super Bowl.

Philadelphia also reached the postseason in 2018 and 2019, though it failed to advance beyond the divisional round on either occasion.

The Eagles' performance dipped in 2020 with a 4-11-1 record, including seven losses over their past eight games to fall short in an NFC East race won by the Washington Football Team at 7-9. The season also ended with a quarterback controversy between Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts.

So the front office moved in a new direction, and it sounds like Pederson, a former NFL quarterback, will take a year off from the coaching grind.

His career on the sideline started in 2005 at the Calvary Baptist Academy in Louisiana. He first joined the Eagles as part of the quality control staff in 2009 and, after a three-year stint as offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs (2013-15), he returned to Philadelphia as head coach in 2016.

Pederson could be one of the top names on the coaching carousel next offseason, which could allow him to target an organization on the ascent with a quarterback already in place.

It wouldn't be a surprise if he takes a job in media, similar to what Urban Meyer did after leaving Ohio State, while awaiting that next coaching opportunity.