When Doug Pederson was hired as one of seven new NFL head coaches before the 2016 season, he certainly didn't seem like the Eagles' first choice.
Boy, did they luck out.
Because while Pederson has led the Eagles to an overall record of 21-12 and into the NFC Championship Game in his second season, the other six coaching hires have floundered.
Pederson, 49, has every right to gloat. He has every right to point at the folks who called him the worst or near-worst hire of the offseason and laugh in their faces.
He doesn't want to.
"Listen, I don't pay any attention to that, quite honestly," Pederson said a few feet away from the George Halas Trophy that he's trying to win this weekend. "I drive home at night, knowing I put in a full day's work. I get up in the morning and come in here, however, I can serve this organization, serve these players. That's all I know. That's all I know. I love football. I love football. I love teaching it, I love being around these guys.
"And I'm going to pour my life into these players. And if it's good enough, great, because that's all I know I can do and I've given my best effort. I don't care about what's written. It's kind of like the underdog thing, our players don't pay attention to that. And I'm kind of the same way."
NFL
A quick look at the other six coaches hired in that 2016 offseason will bring back memories of some hot names, the guys everyone wanted the Eagles to hire.
The Giants hired Ben McAdoo ... fired.
The 49ers hired Chip Kelly ... fired.
The Titans hired Mike Mularkey ... fired.
The Dolphins hired Adam Gase ... 16-17 in two seasons.
The Bucs hired Dirk Koetter ... 14-18 in two seasons.
The Browns hired Hue Jackson ... 1-31 in two seasons.
And the Eagles hired Pederson, the guy nobody wanted, the guy who seemed like their second choice.
He's one game away from getting them to the Super Bowl.