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Doug Pederson Listed as Co-Favorite in Odds to Be Jets’ Next Head Coach After Being Fired by Eagles

Nick Krueger

by Nick Krueger in NFL Football

Updated Jan 12, 2021 · 11:57 AM PST

Doug Pederson coaching
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson watches warmups before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
  • Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has been slotted as the co-favorite to be hired by the New York Jets
  • Pederson worked closely with Jets GM Joe Douglas when he was in the Philadelphia front office
  • Read below for analysis and a look at all the top candidates

Following his dismissal from the Philadelphia Eagles, Doug Pederson was immediately listed as a favorite at online sportsbooks to become the next head coach of the New York Jets.

The Jets fired Adam Gase last week after he failed to improve the team in his two years at the helm. One of Gase’s biggest failures was his inability to help former first round quarterback Sam Darnold play to the potential many saw for him coming out of college.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is reportedly flying to the metro New York area on Tuesday for a second interview. Saleh is at +300 with Pederson atop the odds – both are now in front of Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, who was considered the favorite last week.

Odds to Be New York Jets Next Head Coach

Coach Current Odds
Doug Pederson +300
Robert Saleh +300
Brian Daboll +650
Eric Bieniemy +850
Joe Brady +1000
Matt Campbell +1000
Matt Eberflus +1000
Arthur Smith +1100
Brandon Staley +1100
Aaron Glenn +1500
Dave Toub +1500
David Shaw +1500
Don Martindale +1500
Pat Fitzgerald +1500
Greg Roman +2300
Marvin Lewis +2300
Raheem Morris +2300
Josh McDaniels +3400
Kevin O’Connell +4000
Urban Meyer +4000

Odds as of Jan. 12th

Choosing between Pederson and Saleh

Saleh had already been reported as the first serious candidate for the position prior to Pederson entering the conversation.

From a pure leverage perspective, he should probably be the favorite. Saleh is a top choice for several other teams, and brings with him a ringing endorsement from players and fellow coaches. Conversely, Pederson was ousted after not seeing eye-to-eye with owner Jeffrey Lurie, amid conflicting stories from players about his handling of the team – particularly in the final weeks of the regular season.

From an experience perspective, Pederson joins a list of other well-respected offensive coaches. Regardless of Darnold’s future with the team, there will be a number of top QB prospects available when the Jets pick in the first round at No. 2. Finding the right coach to successfully work with quarterbacks should be a priority for the Jets, and that isn’t likely to be the top consideration when it comes to Saleh.

Things seemed to go sideways for Eagles QB Carson Wentz this season, and the team was marred with injuries and COVID-19 complications very early on. Despite some optimism with Jalen Hurts at quarterback since Week 14, the offense had not been very efficient all year, and Pederson was questioned for taking him out of their final game against Washington.

Wentz was coming off of his best season since the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017-18. Pederson was given much of the credit for his development as a first round talent from FCS North Dakota State, but 2020 was a clear step backwards.

Parsing the Rest of the Candidates

One of Daboll’s biggest selling points is the development of Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Daboll has been praised for turning the former Wyoming QB from a liability into the strength of Buffalo’s offense.

Bettors that feel he is a better value at +650 than his previous +450, should do so with the belief that the Jets still have some desire for Darnold to remain in the quarterback picture.

Kansas City’s Eric Bieniemy (+850) is also atop the lists of a number of other teams searching for a head coach. He has shared play-calling duties with head coach Andy Ried since 2018, and the Chiefs have been an offensive powerhouse. He has a similar energy to Saleh on the sidelines, and would be a good pick to lead a young roster.

When the Jets hired Gase, CEO Christopher Johnson lauded his “brilliant offensive mind”. If that’s what is most attractive to him in a candidate, Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady is an interesting option at +1000. He has interviewed with the Jets and several other teams, but is still riding the wave of notoriety he received for running LSU’s offense in 2019.

Beyond those names, the other most sought-after candidate is Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. At +1100, he has the longest odds of the other names mentioned, but he hasn’t interviewed with the team yet. After Ryan Tannehill resurrected his career with the Titans, he is a name to keep in mind for a team like the Jets that appear to have a broken starting quarterback.

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