Five potential Miami football candidates with head coaching experience

Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson is a former NFL QB and assistant coach who quickly rose up the coaching ranks in the NFL. Pederson went from high school head coach to the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. Pederson was a backup QB in the NFL between 1991-2004. Pederson became a high school coach following retirement.

From 2005-2008, Pederson was the head coach at Calvary Baptist Academy. The Philadelphia Eagles hired Pederson as an assistant coach in 2009. Pederson moved up to quarterbacks coach in 2011 and 2012. When Andy Reid left for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pederson took the same job there.

Pederson was elevated to the offensive coordinator in Kansas City in 2013 and lasted through 2015. Philadelphia hired Pederson as their head coach in 2016. After going 7-9 in his first season in 2016, the Eagles finished 13-3 in 2017 and won the first Superbowl title in franchise history.

Philadelphia lost in the wildcard game in 2018 and 2019. After finishing 4-11-1 in 2020, Pederson was fired. The competition for a Superbowl winning coach will be extensive. Pederson will be connected to the Las Vegas Raiders with the resignation of head coach Jon Gruden on Monday.

Other college head coaching jobs like USC will also be mentioned. Pederson will have his pick of several positions for him to choose from. Hiring a former NFL coach who hasn’t had to recruit could be a risky move. If Miami fires Diaz, making the right hire will be important to avoid a continual cycle of new head coaches.