Doug Pederson Emerges As Possible OC Option For Chiefs
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid will address the media for the first time since his hiring this afternoon but meanwhile, the names of possible candidates to fill out Reid’s staff are beginning to emerge.
Reid has a large football family tree so a number of names with Reid connections have been floated already, including former Browns coach Pat Shurmur and former Browns GM Tom Heckert.
Well, now we’ve got another one.
According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, Eagles QB coach Doug Pederson could be in line to take over for Brian Daboll as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
"So what’s Andy Reid thinking about his staff in Philadelphia? I’m hearing he’s leaning toward bypassing Marty Mornhinweg as offensive coordinator and naming his Eagles quarterback coach, Doug Pederson, as coordinator. Had he not been kept as Carolina head coach, Ron Rivera would have been in play with Monte Kiffin for defensive coordinator …"
Pederson is a former QB. He played in the NFL after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins. He spent time with the Panthers, as a backup with the Packers, Eagles and Browns before finishing his career as a backup back in Green Bay. He had short starting stints in Cleveland and Philly when Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb went down to injury. He retired in 2004.
Pederson went on to coach a high school team for four years before being hired by Andy Reid and the Eagles to be their offensive quality control coach in 2009. He was then promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2011.
Pederson has risen quickly, which could indicate that Reid has a tremendous amount of faith in him. Having spent time in Reid’s offensive system, both as a player and a coach should be useful but his lack of experience calling plays at an NFL level is disconcerting. I am all for young coaches getting a shot but I think I’d rather have a play caller with a more proven track record helping to resurrect the Chiefs’ offense, especially if that offense is going to be led by a rookie passer.