Here’s what Eagles coach Doug Pederson had to say after the 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII:
On his current emotions after winning the Super Bowl: “It hasn’t really sunk in, but I’m so excited for that locker room. For Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie to give me the opportunity to coach this team, and then everything that we’ve been through this season, to get to this point – a lot of people counted us out – but that locker room believed, believed in each other, believed in me. I have a great staff and great players, and we found a way to get it done.”
On if he believed that the Eagles needed to score a touchdown on their final scoring drive: “I knew that we were going to have to score a touchdown in that situation. A field goal wasn’t going to be good enough, not against (Tom) Brady and the Patriots, so we stayed aggressive. Nick (Foles) made some outstanding throws, guys made some plays for him – Nelson (Agholor), (Zach) Ertz on the touchdown. Play after play, guys really stepped up tonight, and just had to get a touchdown in that situation.”
On what it is like to coach such a high scoring game: “It kind of felt like whoever had the ball last could win this game, and we were just fortunate enough to put ourselves in a position to end the game with that drive for the touchdown. Our defense stepped up and did a nice job to finish it for us. I’m so happy for them.”
On the trick play touchdown pass to Foles: “That play we’ve been working on for the last couple of weeks, and just needed the right time, right opportunity, and the guys executed it brilliantly.”
On how long the Eagles have been practicing that trick play: “Probably the last three weeks, maybe. Since the postseason started.”
On his emotions for Super Bowl MVP Foles: “Yeah, I’m so happy for Nick. A lot of people – a lot like this football team – a lot of people counted him out and didn’t think he could get it done. I believed in him, the staff believed in him, the players believed in him. We just needed time, we needed time together to work out some things, and this whole postseason Nick has shown exactly who he is and what he can do and what he is capable of doing. He’s well deserved of the honor, but I know that he would give credit where credit is due, and he had a lot of playmakers tonight make plays for him on both sides of the ball.”
On being an aggressive play caller and if a game like this makes him want to be even more aggressive: “I take it week by week, but I trust my players, I trust the coaches and I trust my instincts. I trust everything that I’m doing, and I want to maintain that aggressiveness with the guys. In games like this against a great opponent, you have to make those tough decisions that way and keep yourself aggressive.”
On what the team calls the trick pass play: “You really want to know what we call it? Philly special (laughter). Philly special.”
On how the Eagles staff came up with the trick play: “Part of having a great offensive staff is every week we look at different plays around the league and the collegiate ranks, and things that over the years that might fit what we do. We found this one that fit, and we’ve been working on it for the last couple of weeks and tonight was the night.”
On what this victory means to him and the city of Philadelphia: “Obviously it’s rewarding to win the Super Bowl and lead these guys, but listen, my hat is off to the staff, to the ownership, to the players, to the fans. Our fans have been waiting a long time for this, and Mr. Lurie has been waiting a long time for this, and I’m so excited to be a part of it and obviously bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia. I just can’t wait to get back there and celebrate with our fans.”
On the culture of this Eagles team: “I’ll tell you, it’s all about faith, it’s all about our family, and then it’s all about the Philadelphia Eagles, and it’s in that order. We have a great group of guys, resilient group, and that’s what keeps me grounded. My faith keeps me grounded every single day. I just come to work, I’m the same person, and I don’t ever want to change. I love this environment, however, and hopefully we can win a couple more of these.”
