Michael Perez/AP Photo

By Joe Giglio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It's a good time to be a Doug Pederson supporter.

As the Eagles sit atop the NFL standings, their second-year head coach is a major reason for success in Philadelphia. While it's easy to forget now, the 2017 Coach of the Year candidate wasn't welcomed with open arms by many into the head coaching fraternity in the NFL.

In fact, Pederson—and the Eagles for making the hire in 2016—was ripped when landing the job.

Don't Edit

While it's fun to have fun with The Ringer's Mike Lombardi's hot takes before this season, the bulk of Pederson criticism came before he even coached a game in the NFL.

Here's a look back at the stupidest things said about Pederson at the time of his hiring in January 2016.

Don't Edit

My first impression of Doug Pederson is I wonder who the Eagles will hire as head coach in 2017. — Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmarNFL) January 20, 2016

Don't Edit

Reminder: The Eagles, under Pederson in 2017, are currently the NFL's best team.

Don't Edit

Steven Flynn/USA Today Sports

Jeremiah Trotter: 'Give me Hue Jackson!'

Eagles defensive legend Jeremiah Trotter was a proponent of hiring either Hue Jackson or Tom Coughlin—and called the hiring of Pederson a ‘safe’ pick.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

“I said from Day One that I was a really big [proponent of] Hue Jackson. And after that, you’re just kind of taking a chance on some of these guys. It’s not like you’re going to get a guy that’s got years and years of experience unless you’re going to go with a guy like Tom Coughlin; that didn’t really interest me. I didn’t think that was a great move.”

Don't Edit

Broncos defender: Pederson runs 'college offense'

Don't Edit

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Donovan McNabb questions his teammate

"Now as an alum, and I think I can say this for a lot of us, what are they trying to do? Are they trying to re-create the 1999-2009 Eagles? Are they trying to relive the past, or do they want someone to come in and set his own legacy? I want to see the Eagles win, but I don't know if you do that just by bringing guys back who were there," McNabb said.

Don't Edit

Pro Football Talk: Jim Tomsula 2.0?

Pro Football Talk compared Pederson to one of the NFL's biggest one-and-done head coaching disasters.

Don't Edit

New Eagles coach Doug Pederson could end up being the next Andy Reid in Philly. Or the next Jim Tomsula.

Not that the Eagles have ever had a Tomsula. But the move feels more like a Chip Kelly palate cleanser than an all-in move toward a Super Bowl run.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

ESPN: 'It feels like a reach'

Ian O'Connor of ESPN used the 'Doug Pederson is a bad hire' trifecta reasoning: Poor play as a player (as if that matters), lack of experience and the perception of the process to hire him.

Also of note: O’Connor ranked Jackson (1-23 in Cleveland) as the best hire.

Don't Edit

Pederson spent most of his 10 NFL seasons as a backup quarterback (3-14 as a starter) before becoming a high school coach and then an assistant in Philly under Andy Reid, who brought him along to Kansas City. Pederson has spent only three years in the league as a coordinator, all under a head coach who is a dominant offensive voice. Maybe Pederson has the "emotional intelligence" that owner Jeffrey Lurie is looking for and that Chip Kelly allegedly lacked, and maybe not. But after Coughlin pulled out of the chase and McAdoo canceled his second interview, Lurie didn't have much to choose from and figured Pederson might bring a little Andy Reid football back to the Linc. It feels like a reach.

Don't Edit

Eagles to the Super Bowl?

Don't Edit

AP Photo

For The Win: 'Blergh hire'

The ripping of Pederson (who the author also ranked last among the 2016 hires) started off as a defense of Chip Kelly prior to his 2-14 season in San Francisco.

Don't Edit

That’s how you end up with the blergh hire of Doug Pederson, who was coaching in high school just eight years ago (the Eagles love those quick-risers, don’t they) and served as offensive coordinator under Andy Reid for the past three seasons in Kansas City. And had never been interviewed by an NFL team. And was as nondescript as Kelly was high profile. Pederson might be perfectly fine, though I look at him and, I don’t know why, just see a younger Norv Turner. INSPIRING!

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.