Eagles Introduce Doug Pederson as Coach

The Philadelphia Eagles Tuesday officially kicked off a new era, introducing Doug Pederson as their new head coach, the 23rd in franchise history.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to welcome Doug Pederson back to the Eagles' family," owner Jeffrey Lurie said.

"I'm standing here before you just a humbled human being," Pederson said when he was introduced. He thanked the people he worked with in Kansas City, including former Eagles coach Andy Reid, who he called "one of my mentors."

Pederson declared that "this is not an Andy Reid football team, or a Doug Pederson football team- it's a Philadelphia Eagles team."

Pederson vowed that "we're gonna work every day." He also confirmed that Jim Schwartz will serve as the team's defensive coordinator; the team has yet to settle on an offensive coordinator.

The new coach described Sam Bradford as a "top-notch quarterback" who would fit into his system, but did not confirm that Bradford would be re-signed. He added that he plans to call plays on offense- and in fact, he called the plays in the second half of the Chiefs' loss to the Patriots on Saturday.

Pederson described his offensive system as a "hybrid" that includes elements of the West Coast Offense.

Describing the search process, Lurie said the team started with about 25 candidates, and that research started "during the season," in the event of there being a coaching vacancy. That list was reduced to about 10 candidates- some of whom were existing coaches on other teams- and that the candidates the team interviewed were "all impressive." But that the brain trust unanimously decided that Pederson was the one.

Lurie added that at no point was anyone "about to be offered the job" other than Pederson.

Lurie praised Pederson both for his smarts, and for being "comfortable in his own skin."

And Lurie also announced that the team is commencing a search for a new "player personnel head."

Pederson, who arrived in town Monday, replaces Chip Kelly as the Birds' coach.