The Jaguars are in the midst of a special season with a chance to make a deep playoff win, and that special season could include a special moment for TE Josh Pederson.
The former undrafted free agent has spent time with a handful of teams since 2021, but he has yet to find his way into an NFL game. In fact, he wasn't on an active roster during the regular season until Monday, when Jacksonville activated him for a primetime game against the Bengals.
Any NFL debut is meaningful, but Pederson's debut will make for an especially heartfelt moment considering his connection to Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.
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Here's what you need to know about the Pederson family and how they could do something that hasn't been done in more than four decades.
Is Josh Pederson related to Doug Pederson?
Josh Pederson is the son of Doug Pederson. Josh is one of Doug's three sons.
When Pederson stepped onto the field for the first time on Monday, he made a bit of NFL history. The last head coach-son duo was John McKay and J.K. McKay with the Buccaneers in 1978. 45 years later, the heartwarming scene played out in Jacksonville.
Big day for the Pederson family ❤️ #CINvsJAX pic.twitter.com/L2ZW0d50Jf
— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2023
The younger Pederson went undrafted in 2021 and has bounced around the NFL ever since, spending time with four franchises. He initially signed with the 49ers in 2021 but was waived early in training camp, only to be picked up by the Saints for two weeks.
The Chiefs gave Pederson a reserve/future contract in 2022 but waived him shortly after the draft, so the tight end spent the 2022 season away from the league.
Pederson played for the USFL's Houston Gamblers earlier in 2023 in an attempt to impress NFL front offices, racking up 325 yards on 24 catches across 10 games. Pederson did find a taker, but it was the team his father coaches.
The Jaguars waived Pederson at the end of training camp but re-signed him to their practice squad after he cleared waivers. His elevation on Monday night opened the door for Pederson's first taste of NFL regular season action.
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Where did Josh Pederson go to college?
Pederson spent his collegiate days at Louisiana-Monroe, playing in the Sun Belt Conference.
Pederson was a four-year player with the Warhawks, breaking through with 567 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019. He totaled 367 yards over 10 games as a senior in 2020 but couldn't find his way into the end zone.
Overall, Pederson posted 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons at Louisiana-Monroe. He went undrafted in 2021.
