Jaguars GM Trent Baalke says claims of conflict with coach Doug Pederson are 'false narratives'

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The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a trip to the playoffs in 2022 during head coach Doug Pederson's first year in charge. 

The Jaguars ended a five-year playoff drought and mounted an improbable comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round. Last season's success raised expectations for 2023. 

Star quarterback Trevor Lawrence was entering his third NFL season, and Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Ridley was reinstated. Ridley was added to a receiver room that already featured Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.

But Jacksonville had a disappointing 2023 campaign, dropping five of its final six games. The Jaguars ended the year with a 9-8 record and missed the postseason. The issues down the stretch sparked conversations about whether the team's general manager and head coach were at odds.

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Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke of the Jacksonville Jaguars talk during a game against the Miami Dolphins at EverBank Stadium Aug. 26, 2023, in Jacksonville. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

General manager Trent Baalke quickly rejected any suggestion of dysfunction between two of the organization's top decision makers.

"A lot of what’s written, a lot of the narratives out there are just false," the Jaguars general manager said earlier this week in a press conference. "Plan and simple, false narratives."

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Baalke added that he maintained a strong relationship with Pederson despite the season's rough ending.

"When you go through tough times, you find out a lot about a lot of people," Baalke said. "The season