Pederson Talks Jags at NFL Meeting

NFL owners, team presidents, GMs, and head coaches have descended on Phoenix this week for the Annual League Meeting. While much of the headlines have been centered around Dan Snyder and Lamar Jackson, those stories weren’t on Doug Pederson’s mind during media availability. The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach spoke to media members about his time off, his tenure in Jacksonville, and the team’s outlook this season.

Last Season

Last season was a roller coaster for the Jaguars. The team finished with a regular season record of 9-8 which earned them a wild card birth. In the Wild Card round, the Jaguars rallied to overcome a 27-0 deficit to beat the Chargers 31-30. The magic stopped there, as the team fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the next round.

Speaking to the media about the Wild Card victory, Pederson described his feelings as pure joy.

This audio comes courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Being the Jaguars’ Head Coach

Pederson shared his admiration for Jaguars fans during his media availability. He discussed the respect that Jacksonville fans have for the team and for the process. Pederson will hold the reception that Jags fans gave him close to his heart.

This audio comes courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pederson on Free Agency

Free agency was one of the topics that came up throughout Pederson’s availability. He described the team’s goals this off-season as being different than they were last year. While the team’s goals last year included bringing in talent through the draft and free agency, this season, they’ve shifted their focus onto retaining talent. One key player that Pederson discussed is Calais Campbell, who visited with the team recently. Pederson said that it’s always important to meet with players of Campbell’s caliber.

This audio comes courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Up Next for Pederson and the Jaguars

April 17 is the date that NFL teams with returning head coaches can begin off-season workouts. Follow WRUF for coverage of the Jaguars as they ramp up to start the 2023 NFL season in September.