Eagles Fire Head Coach Doug Pederson

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Just three years removed from bringing Philadelphia the first Super Bowl in city history, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has been fired, the team announced Monday.

The news comes after a brutal season for the Birds, which saw them underperform expectations and finish last in the NFC East.

"Everyone in the organization understands the type of man and coach that he is, and how much he means to all of us as well as the City of Philadelphia," Eagles CEO and Chairman Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement announcing the firing. "We all look forward to the day he will be inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame as a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and we are confident he will have success with his next team."

A report from ESPN cites Lurie's concerns with the ongoing situation with starting quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz was benched after a historically bad start to the season, and tensions were running high in the clubhouse after the Birds pivoted to Jalen Hurts for the last several games.

Lurie did not go into specifics in his statement, saying only "it is in both of our best interests to part ways" and noting "we are all very disappointed with the way our season went."

Lurie and Pederson have long been at odds over coaching personnel decisions, and this reportedly contributed to Lurie's lack of faith that Pederson had a "sound vision for how to address the myriad of issues facing the team," ESPN's Tim McManus writes.

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport expanded on the coaching staff issue, citing sources close to Pederson who said "Pederson was sick of people telling him what to do."

While 2020 was doubtlessly a low point for Pederson, Wentz, and the franchise as a whole, Pederson guided the Eagles to three consecutive playoff appearances. After the legendary Super Bowl year in 2017-18, there were two consecutive years in which the team was dogged by injury but nonetheless persevered into the postseason.

All four head coaches of Philadelphia sports teams have been fired in the last two years. It started with the Flyers letting go Dave Hakstol in Dec. 2018. The Phillies then fired new manager Gabe Kapler after just two seasons in Oct. 2019. And the Sixers let go longtime leader Brett Brown in Aug. 2020, after their early exit from the playoffs in the COVID-shortened season.

No time in recent Philadelphia history has a head coach been fired so shortly after leading their team to a championship; but then again, Philadelphia has perhaps too few championships for that to serve as a reasonable barometer.

As the Eagles begin the search for a new coach, it remains unclear whether they will attempt to mend a fractured relationship with Wentz, or trade him and move forward with Hurts.

"I know that we have work to do to get back to where we want to be, but I also believe that we have an exceptionally strong group of people int his organization who can help set us up for future success," Lurie added Monday.

Following the unceremonious conclusion to the Chip Kelly era in Jan. 2016, Pederson swiftly turned things around the next season, working to a 7-9 record that saw Wentz make his NFL debut with three consecutive wins. The future looked bright.

That future came more quickly than anyone could have imagined. A year later, that 7-9 team turned the tables to go 13-3, shocking the NFL even after the mid-season loss of Wentz. Under Pederson and Nick Foles, the Birds won the first Super Bowl in franchise history, and brought the city of Philadelphia its first championship since the Phillies win in 2008 a decade prior.

Eagles players and fans expressed love for Pederson Monday.

"I appreciate Doug Pederson," Chris Long, a member of the Super Bowl winning team, wrote on Twitter. "We worked hard & he never flinched. His energy+ attitude was a big part of 2017. Hoping the champ gets back on his feet quickly. I suspect he will."

Along with Long, Foles, other coaches, and now Pederson, the Eagles are now without several of the celebrated components of that championship team.

NFL Network host Tom Pelissero was among those indicating that Pederson could have a future with the New York Jets, who are also now without a head coach after an abysmal year.

Pederson and the Eagles came under fire around the league for what was perceived by some to be an intentionally lackluster performance in the season ending game against Washington. Pederson benched Hurts in the fourth quarter of the close game. While meaningless to the Eagles' season, the loss ultimately boosted their draft position, and Washington clinched the division title over the New York Giants with the win.

The Eagles ended 2020 with a 4-11-1 record.

This is a breaking story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.