Doug Pederson's name emerged as candidate for the Eagles' head coaching search, Sunday morning and immediately two independent sources shot it down.

Now a few days later, they're not so sure.

"I think Andy (Reid) is getting to the owner (Jeffrey Lurie),'' one said. "Those two still get along pretty well, which is kind of peculiar on its own. But (Lurie) listens to Andy. They may wait and interview Pederson, and then who knows?''

Pederson, the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator, under Reid, cannot be interviewed by the Eagles, or any other team, until the Chiefs are out of the playoffs. They play at the Houston Texans, Saturday. If the Chiefs were to make it to the Super Bowl, he could be interviewed during the bye week before the game.

The second source, who thought all along the Eagles might be doing Reid a favor, said Pederson has a shot, but should not be considered the favorite.

"I don't think he's their first choice,'' he said of Pederson. "I'm not sure who that is, maybe (Adam) Gase, but (Pederson) could be their fall back option. I think it's obvious they're looking for an offensive-minded guy who can work with quarterbacks. He fits that mold.''

Pederson signed with the Eagles as a quarterback in 1999, Reid's first year as head coach and started until rookie Donovan McNabb was ready to take over.

He came back to the Eagles as the quarterbacks coach under Reid in 2011 and 2012 when the team struggled to 8-8 and 4-12 marks.

When Reid was fired by Lurie and hired by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, Reid picked Pederson to be his offensive coordinator over both of his former coordinators with the Eagles, Brad Childress and Marty Mornhinweg.

Thus far the Eagles have held interviews with three candidates, current running backs coach Duce Staley, current offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Gase, the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator.

They are reported to be setting up an interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

Mark Eckel may be reached at mjeck04@verizon.net. Follow him on Twitter @MarkEckel08. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.

THE NO-HUDDLE SHOW, Ep. 24: Searching for Chip Kelly's replacement as Eagles coach