Doug Pederson didn’t come from coaching royalty and similar to his journey as a player, the Eagles head coach has built his resume from the ground up.
Pederson is one of seven active NFL coaches that have won a Super Bowl ring, yet he’s constantly fighting for respect in a league where the innovation and youth are all the rage in the coaching ranks.
Former NFL offensive linemen and current analyst, Ross Tucker was asked about Pederson and where he ranks among NFL coaches today.
“There is no doubt, he’s a top-five head coach in the NFL,” Tucker said Thursday during his “Tucker’s Takes” segment on WFAN’s Odds on Sports. “He is an absolute stud. They all like him, everyone on the team likes him, and he’s proven himself; when it really has been time for the Eagles to win, especially late in the year, he has gotten it done.”
Asked what Pederson’s most consistent trait is as a head coach, Tucker pointed to the Eagles head coach having the unique ability to adapt to any situation or circumstance.
“Think about this: in 2017, they lose their MVP-caliber quarterback – that’s how well Carson Wentz was playing – and Nick Foles comes in and they win the Super Bowl, including beating Brady and Belichick in the Super Bowl,” Tucker said. “The next year, Wentz goes down again, Foles comes in, they win another playoff game, and if Alshon Jeffery doesn’t drop a pass in New Orleans, they’re probably in the NFC Championship Game. Last year, Wentz stayed healthy but everyone else got hurt, and he still finds a way to win a division, and make it three straight years of playoff berths.”
That continuity and Pederson’s ability to relate with and lead fully grown men is a huge reason why the Eagles are considered favorites to repeat in the NFC East.