NEWSLETTER
Doug Pederson’s résumé is loaded with accolades. Three playoff appearances, two division titles, and a Super Bowl defeat of Tom Brady and the Patriots. But the NFL can be an unforgiving place. And in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately? kind of world we live in, the Eagles’ stumbling in 2020 played a role in Philadelphia parting ways with its championship-winning coach.
But no one expected Pederson to be out of the game for long. Moreover, who would’ve guessed he would show up at Halas Hall?
Matt Nagy and Doug Peterson walking to the field at training camp pic.twitter.com/tSLldENIui
— Ben (@BenWRecruiter) August 6, 2021
While the Bears are doing 1-on-1 drills, Andy Dalton is off to the side talking with special guest Doug Pederson.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 6, 2021
A Pederson spotting at Bears camp is interesting on multiple levels. Before the Eagles hired Pederson to be their head coach in 2016, he and Nagy coached together under Andy Reid in Philadelphia (2009-12) and Kansas City (2013-15). A familiar relationship is nice, but bringing in Pederson could be more than just inviting an old friend to reminisce on old times.
Pederson’s coaching experience has deep roots in two areas where the Bears could stand to get up to speed. Firstly, quarterback development. In addition to being a former head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach, Pederson was a former player. That is worth noting because Pederson was Philly’s starting quarterback in 1999 when second overall pick Donovan McNabb was the heir apparent waiting in the wings. It’s something we discussed here while offering possible developmental plans for the Bears’ current situation. Perhaps Nagy could lean on an old friend for advice and perspective on how to properly go about his own quarterback’s room with first-round pick Justin Fields developing behind veteran Andy Dalton.
The other area Pederson could offer aid and assistance is from an analytical perspective:
The Eagles, by the way, converted 26 of the 44 tries, which works out to a healthy 59%.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) February 16, 2021
At the peak of their powers, the Eagles were at the cutting edge of offensive innovation and aggressiveness. So, if you’re hoping the Bears would push the envelope more in 2021, then you should be rooting for Pederson to lean on Nagy and act like the devil on his shoulder saying go for it at every sensible opportunity.
Nagy isn’t one to shy away from being special guests to speak with his players. Peyton Manning, Doc Rivers, and Cris Carter are among the most recent big names to cross over into the land of the Bears. But Pederson popping up hits different. Maybe there is a fancy title awaiting Pederson in the near future. Whatever it is, I’m glad to see Nagy reach out to an old friend. Every bit helps.
