Report: AFC coach could be fired with bad loss in Week 11

Feb 6, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; The NFL shield logo is seen at midfield before the Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars will face arguably their most difficult test of the season on Sunday, and the result could potentially trigger a head coaching change.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported over the weekend that the Jaguars could make a “dramatic move” if they suffer a bad loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Doug Pederson is viewed as being on the hot seat, and Jacksonville has a bye in Week 12. If owner Shad Khan is already thinking about firing Pederson, the bye week might be a good time to move on from the head coach.

Pederson is not in an ideal spot, to say the least. Trevor Lawrence has been ruled out for Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, meaning Mac Jones will start again for the Jaguars. Jones threw two interceptions in last week’s 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville’s offense looked completely stagnant.

Rapoport notes that there are several people within the Jaguars organization who would not be surprised if Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke are fired. The way the 2023 season ended is also a factor, as Jacksonville began the year 8-3 before finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs.

Pederson is an offensive-minded coach. The Jaguars hired him in hopes that he would maximize Lawrence’s potential, and the results have not been there. Though Pederson received a vote of confidence from Khan not all that long ago, there have been regressions almost across the board in Jacksonville. That is usually a recipe for a head coach to lose his job.