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A brief history of first-year NFL coaches starting 3-0

Bill Belichick has said that an NFL coach doesn't know his team until October, and I suppose the logic says that an NFL coach doesn't know any other coach's team until October, too.

From that vantage point, it shouldn't come as a surprise that we've seen plenty of teams with a first-year head coach equal Doug Pederson's current feat of starting his Eagles career 3-0. In fact, Pederson started 3-0 at his last stop when he was the offensive coordinator under first-year Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Maybe it also shouldn't surprise that, for several of those coaches, 3-0 was not a prelude to greatness. In fact, of the nine teams that started 3-0 under a first-year head coach between 2006-15, three ended up firing that same coach by the end of the following season.

There is no reason to think that Pederson is Marc Trestman or Josh McDaniels. But it also might be premature to label him Mike Tomlin or Sean Payton (as well as Jim Caldwell and Rex Ryan, for better or for worse).

As for coaches starting their personal head-coaching career 3-0: Trestman, Caldwell, McDaniels, Ryan, Tomlin, Payton.

For what it is worth, Carson Wentz is also in rather odd company by winning his first three career starts. The last quarterbacks to do it, per Pro-Football-Reference.com:  T.J. Yates in 2011, Mark Sanchez in 2009, Marc Bulger in 2002, Shaun King in 1999, Greg Cook in 1968, Jacky Lee in 1960. And, of course, Trevor Siemian in 2016.

1. 2015 Broncos (Gary Kubiak)

Started: 7-0

Finished: 12-4

Playoffs: Won Super Bowl

2. 2013 Chiefs (Andy Reid)

Started: 9-0

Finished 11-5

Playoffs: One and done

3. 2013 Bears (Marc Trestman)

Started: 3-0

Finished: 8-8

Playoffs: No

4. 2009 Colts (Jim Caldwell)

Started: 14-0

Finished: 14-2

Playoffs: Lost Super Bowl

5. 2009 Broncos (Josh McDaniels)

Started: 6-0

Finished: 8-8

6. 2009 Jets (Rex Ryan)

Started: 3-0

Finished: 9-7

Playoffs: Lost AFC Championship

*Mark Sanchez rookie starter

7. 2007 Cowboys (Wade Phillips)

Started: 5-0

Finished: 13-3

Playoffs: One and done

8. 2007 Steelers (Mike Tomlin)

Started: 3-0

Finished: 10-6

Playoffs: One and done

9. 2006 Saints (Sean Payton)

Started: 3-0

Finished: 10-6

Playoffs: Lost NFC Championship