January 14, 2016
Reed Hoffmann/AP
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson talks to QB Alex Smith.
Now that we know Doug Pederson will be the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, it's time to do what we do best: react.
The hiring can't become official until the Kansas City Chiefs are eliminated from the playoffs -- they play the Patriots on Saturday -- but Les Bowen of The Daily News first reported on Thursday that the former Eagles quarterback and assistant coach will succeed Chip Kelly as head coach.
Pederson, who has been the offensive coordinator in Kansas City since Andy Reid was hired there prior to the 2013 season, didn't interview with any other teams. But considering how familiar owner Jeffrey Lurie, president Don Smolenski, and Howie Roseman are with Pederson, but the guys he studied under -- like Reid -- those tasked with picking the team's next leader may have felt they knew something others did not.
Just don't tell the fans that.
Within 24 hours, it went from looking like the Eagles were going to hire Ben McAdoo to Tom Coughlin to, finally, Pederson. And somewhere in between, the 49ers hired Chip Kelly. All that left fans and others who follow the team closely feeling kind of, well, meh...
I have no take. I wish it was someone more exciting but it is what it is. Hope it works.
— Kyle (@IgglesNest) January 14, 2016
Whatever who cares let's drink.
— Arkansas Fred (@ArkansasFred) January 14, 2016
In all, the reactions were mixed, but definitely leaned toward the negative side. Here's a collection of some of the best Twitter had to offer:
So glad the Eagles interviewed every possible candidate before picking the guy no one else had any interest in. #Pederson
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 14, 2016
Isn’t this basically the Eagles admitting firing Andy was the wrong choice?
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 14, 2016
What if I told you that Doug Pederson would be the head coach for 9 games before Donovan McNabb took over? You down with that?
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) January 14, 2016
It’s about time for the Eagles to consider firing Doug Pederson. He hasn’t even won a playoff game since taking over.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 14, 2016
Eagles twitter right now pic.twitter.com/1T1wDymKtN
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) January 14, 2016
Happy for Doug! He is a very good guy!
— Brian Westbrook (@36westbrook) January 14, 2016
Eagles fans reaction to Doug Pederson being named the next head coach: https://t.co/GAl0sEZ0Jb
— Life Of A Philly Fan (@PhillyFanLife) January 14, 2016
Doug Pederson will sap Philadelphia of its collective will to live.
— Brian P. Hickey (@BrianPHickey) January 14, 2016
I’ll say this, if there’s one town who loves their mediocre white backup quarterbacks, it’s Philadelphia.
— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) January 14, 2016
Hoping Kansas City makes it to the Super Bowl so we draw this out as loooooong as possible because we deserve pain.
— The700Level (@The700Level) January 14, 2016
Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin
