BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Doug Pederson turns 50 on Wednesday, and he gets to celebrate a milestone in the frigid Bold North, getting his Eagles on the field for the first time for practice this week in preparation for Super Bowl LII. At some point, no doubt, his players will find the time to wish their head coach a happy birthday.
On Sunday, Pederson gets to match wits with Bill Belichick as a head coach for the first time, although this is not the first time the two have competed against each other. In fact, Pederson traces one of his most memorable career highlights to a day when he defeated Belichick.
“It’s one of ’em,’’ Pederson said Tuesday.
There are not many of ’em.
Pederson, during his 13-year NFL career, qualified as a true journeyman backup quarterback. He made only 17 starts — nine in 1999 with the Eagles and eight in 2000 with the Browns. On Nov. 12, 2000, Pederson started for the Browns in Cleveland and defeated the Patriots 19-11, moving the Browns to 2-8 and the Patriots to 3-8. It was Belichick’s first year as the Patriots’ head coach.
“We were struggling as a team in Cleveland that year, we had a ton of injuries, I can remember that,’’ Pederson said. “A lot of starters on injured reserve. That was a home game and we battled, we hung in there and we beat them in Cleveland. Obviously at that time it was great for Cleveland and for myself and the organization. Back then, Bill was kind of rolling and getting himself in these types of games here. It’s definitely one of the milestones of my career as a quarterback.”
It comes as no surprise Belichick, when reminded of that game during his Super Bowl media session, mumbled something to the effect of “that was a long time ago.’’
Pederson completed 20-of-37 passes for 138 yards in that game, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Shea. Phil Dawson kicked four field goals to help give Pederson a rare starting victory.