Report: Chiefs’ Doug Pederson A ‘Leading Candidate’

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson is expected to be a ‘leading candidate’ for the Eagles’ head coaching job.

Chiefs OC Doug Pederson expected to be a leading candidate for Philadelphia HC job, per sources. Pederson coached in Philly from 2009-12.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2016

Pederson coached for the Eagles under Andy Reid from 2009 to 2012, first as a quality control coach for two years, and then as the team’s quarterbacks coach for two seasons.

He also played quarterback for the Eagles in 1999. He completed 52.4 percent of his passes, threw seven touchdowns to nine interceptions, and went 2-7 in nine starts. Donovan McNabb was a rookie that season; McNabb started six games that year, going 2-4.

Per Bleeding Green Nation’s Brandon Gowton, CSN Philly’s Derrick Gunn reported this morning that Pederson is in fact not a leading candidate for the head coaching job.

.@TheRealDGunnCSN reports that Doug Pederson being a leading candidate for the Eagles coaching job is false.

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 3, 2016

Accurate or not, Pederson’s name is officially part of the rumor mill, which means each report will hold some water until the Eagles actually make their hire.

Pederson is the third name to be reputably tied to the head coaching job. Yesterday, the Eagles confirmed reports that they interviewed current running backs coach Duce Staley for the position. Staley, of course, also previously played for the Eagles.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also reported that Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase is expected to be ‘aggressively pursued’ by the Eagles, as well as the Dolphins and Browns.

Report: Kelly’s disdain for Lurie’s holiday party helped further rift According to a piece published by CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, reports and rumors of former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly‘s difficulty with personal skills were not exaggerated. Here’s La Canfora, on Kelly’s near-refusal to attend the organization’s holiday party, which rubbed Jeffrey Lurie the wrong way.

Lurie has always taken considerable pride in the team’s holiday party, going to great expense to throw the large gathering, with it becoming something of a prized tradition with him. According to numerous sources with knowledge of the situation, Kelly basically refused to attend it this year on its normal Monday night, and ultimately Lurie had to move it to a Friday afternoon onsite to facilitate Kelly’s schedule. Kelly argued Monday night would disrupt the coach’s planning for the week — a fair enough claim — but Lurie apologized to the organization for the haphazard way the party was conducted this year and told others it would not happen in that fashion ever again.