JACKSONVILLE – A day after it ended, there was change.

The change was real, quick and dramatic – and as Jaguars Owner Shad Khan sees it, it marked the first day of a new chapter in the wake of a disappointing 2024 season.

"A moment of opportunity," Khan called it.

Doug Pederson on Monday was dismissed after three seasons as the Jaguars' head coach, with Khan announcing at the same time that Trent Baalke in 2025 will enter his fifth season as the team's general manager.

"There's no doubt in my mind that this is the time to make a change in the best interest of the football team, community and especially our fans," Khan said. "This decision doesn't erase the fact that Doug did a lot of good things here in Jacksonville.

"I have a lot of respect for Doug and will always be grateful for his effort."

Khan dismissed Pederson Monday morning, the day after a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Khan and Baalke spoke to the media via videoconference Monday afternoon, with Baalke saying he doesn't "take the job lightly."

"The bottom line is we weren't productive on the field," Baalke said. "We didn't win enough games, and I don't shy away from that. I'm just as responsible as anybody else.

"All we can do now is roll up our sleeves and go to work."

Added Baalke, "My focus is on getting this ship righted. In order to do that, you have be fully in. You can't have one foot in, one foot out. That's what I intend to do."

Khan said of the search for a new head coach, "I am energized by what is possible with all we have to offer our new head coach and look forward to the process, a process that's already begun."

Khan on Monday also said creating a position to the one Tom Coughlin held from 2017-2019 – i.e., "executive vice president of football operations" – was possible.

"It has to be the right person," Khan said. "We need to add some people. If we find the right person, definitely."

Khan and Baalke also agreed that the Jaguars can quickly improve from a 4-13 2024 season in which the Jaguars lost eight of their last 10 games with 10 losses by seven points or less.

"I expect for us have success very quickly," Khan said. "You have to be shooting for the playoffs, every year."

The Jaguars, after finishing the 2021 season with an NFL-worst 3-14 record, won the AFC South title in 2022 and were leading the division at 8-3 by two games in 2023. They have lost 18 of 23 games since.

"I don't think there's any reason we can't repeat that," Baalke said of the improvement from '21 to '22. "There are a lot of there's a lot of good young players on this team. There's a lot to look forward to. The fan base deserves that. They deserve a winner.

"I do think this thing can be flipped and flipped quick."

Khan on Monday discussed extensively the quality of the Jaguars' overall football administration – including health and wellness, medical, statical analysis, scouting and contract administration – and said, "I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater" and "to change all of that is almost suicidal."

"We have a lot of things that are working that can always be improved and will improve," Khan said. "Certainly over the last few years, we've built a football administration and a lot of things are working well there. There are other things that are not working that need to be fixed."

Khan added, "We're all in this together. That includes me, obviously, includes Trent, includes everyone on the football side. But I think where we need the most change is on the coaching side. That's where we're starting."

Khan, referencing a decline in defensive performance this past season and an overall predictability in play-calling, called coaching "an area that we need to fix now."

The Jaguars, after back-to-back 9-8 seasons and an AFC South title in 2022 in Pederson's first two seasons, lost their first four games this season. The 10 one-score losses were the most by an NFL team in the Super Bowl era.

"As the season progressed, obviously we weren't doing well," Khan said. "We were close like yesterday, but not close enough to win the game. As I spoke to Doug even last week for a good length of time, I just came to the conclusion what we were doing was not working, and a change in direction was needed."

Pederson following the 2023 season dismissed defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and hired Ryan Nielsen in the position. The Jaguars finished No. 32 in overall defense in 2024 and also were last in the NFL with nine takeaways, eight by the defense.

"In trying to get better, we got much worse and that's part of our problem," Khan said. "You don't need someone's advice or a sounding board to tell you that. Those metrics kind of speak out very loud."

Khan on Monday also discussed Baalke's performance managing the draft, managing the salary cap and signing core players such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell to long-term contracts.

"All of that has happened and we haven't mortgaged our future," Khan said, adding, "Overall, I think it has been pretty good."