Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes a processing loop circuit having a data detector and a soft decision decoder. The data detector provides a detected output, and the soft decision decoder applies a soft decoding algorithm to a derivative of the detected output to yield a soft decision output and a first hard decision output. The systems further include a queuing buffer and a hard decision decoder. The queuing buffer is operable to store the soft decision output, and the hard decision decoder accesses the soft decision output and applies a hard decoding algorithm to yield a second hard decision output. The data detector is operable to perform a data detection on a derivative of the soft decision output if the soft decision decoder and the hard decision decoder fail to converge.