The Chargers have made the call to fire Anthony Lynn. Who are potential head coach candidates for the Los Angeles Chargers?
One of the hottest names on the coaching market will be Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. He has been a big part of Patrick Mahomes‘ emergence for the Chiefs, as the team has a great offense over the last few years. Most of the credit for the offensive output has gone to head coach Andy Reid, but Bieniemy has learned from him since 2013, when he was hired as the running backs coach.
Bieniemy would rejoin the team that he once played for albeit in a different city, as he was a San Diego Charger from 1991-1994. The Chargers could go after Bieniemy to get him away from a division rival. They will also get the benefit of having the coach that has helped with Mahomes, so he should be able to help with the already developing Justin Herbert. The Chargers need to at least interview Bieniemy.
Brian Daboll (Photo via wkbw.com)
Daboll is currently the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills after spending some time in both the NFL and college. He has been an offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and for Alabama at the college level. The Bills have seen quite the development from their quarterback, Josh Allen, over Daboll’s three seasons with the team.
Despite his experience in the sport, Daboll has never been a head coach. That may hold him back in some interviews, but his work with Allen over the past few seasons is very encouraging. He will be tasked with replicating the same thing with Herbert, even though Herbert is a more polished passer than Allen was when Daboll started with the Bills.
For teams searching for a defensive coach, Robert Salah will be near the top of their lists. He has slowly made his way through the ranks as a defensive position coach, but has been the defensive coordinator for the 49ers since 2017. His defensive coaching helped the team reach the Super Bowl last season and this season the defense has continued to be tough even with a lot of injuries holding them back.
The Chargers have some really intriguing defensive pieces to work with. Between Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Kenneth Murray and Derwin James, they have enough to be one of the NFL’s best defenses when healthy. Salah could get the defense to reach their potential, while Herbert continues to develop with the offensive coordinator the team eventually hires.
Although he retired from coaching Ohio State a few years ago for the second time in his career, Urban Meyer has been a big name in coaching searches already. He has never coached at the NFL level, but has won championships with Florida and Ohio State at the college level. Meyer has expressed interest in a few NFL jobs including the Chargers.
Not being an NFL coach in his career could hold him back from getting the job, but so too could his reported health concerns. He has retired due to his health in the past, so teams will have to do their due diligence before hiring him. Meyer does have a star former player on the roster already in Bosa, who could vouch for him enough to get the job.
Another defensive-minded candidate is Matt Eberflus, who is the current defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. He has extensive experience coaching on the defensive side of the ball with stops in Cleveland and Dallas in the pros as a linebackers coach. The Colts have had a great defense in the three years Eberflus has been running it, which has helped them make the playoffs this season.
As mentioned with Salah, Eberflus would have a lot of great players to utilize and he could get a lot out of them. The Chargers would need to hire good offensive coaches to help guide Herbert, but Eberflus could raise the level of play of the defense. He may have other offers, but Eberflus could be a good fit in Los Angeles.
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