Chargers demote special teams coordinator George Stewart
COSTA MESA — The Los Angeles Chargers have demoted special teams coordinator George Stewart.
Assistant special teams coach Keith Burns and senior coaching assistant Chris Caminiti will take over, coach Anthony Lynn said Wednesday.
The move comes after a series of breakdowns on special teams nearly cost the Chargers (3-7) against the New York Jets on Sunday. Punter Ty Long was supposed to run out the clock before taking an intentional safety but went down with one second left in the fourth quarter. The Chargers were able to cover the ensuing free kick and hold on for the 34-28 win.
Long also had a punt blocked for the third time in four games, and the Chargers have struggled to produce yardage in the return game and limit the starting field position of their opponents throughout the season. They are 28th in punt returns, 30th in punt coverage, 31st in kick coverage and 16th in kick returns.
“We weren’t getting it done, so I feel like we need to make a change,” Lynn said.
Stewart, who will become an analyst, has been with the Chargers since 2017. He has coached in the NFL for 32 years, directing special teams in stints with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and San Francisco before coaching wide receivers in Atlanta and Minnesota.
Lynn played under Stewart for the 49ers in 1995-96.
“You’re talking about a confidant. You’re talking about a guy that taught me a lot about the game, especially in special team area, and has always had my back so it was extremely hard. I feel like to was something we needed to do,” Lynn said.
This is the second straight season Lynn has made a significant in-season change to his coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was fired midway through the 2019 season.
Cowboys assistant Markus Paul dies day after medical event
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The team said the cause of death was pending.
Paul was in his third season with the Cowboys after previous being a strength and conditioning coach with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, New York Jets and 12 seasons with the New York Giants. Paul was part of five Super Bowl championships, three with the Patriots and two with the Giants.
The former NFL safety played for the Chicago Bears (1989-93) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993). He played in 71 games with 17 starts over those five seasons. He was a fourth-round draft pick out of Syracuse, where he was an AP All-American as a senior in 1998.
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