Chargers tab Michigan's Minter as their defensive coordinator
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh's staff will have a decidedly maize and blue hue to it with Tuesday's announcement that Jesse Minter was hired as their new defensive coordinator. Minter held the same job for the past two seasons under Harbaugh at the University of Michigan.
Minter made the announcement that he was leaving Michigan with a farewell post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the day. He will replace Derrick Ansley, who was the Chargers' defensive coordinator for one season after he took over for Renaldo Hill, who left for the Miami Dolphins after the 2022 season.
The Wolverines had the nation's top-ranked defense while posting a 15-0 record this past season, giving up 247 net yards per game. Minter, 40, was a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award after the 2022 season, given to college football's top assistant. He also was defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt for one season.
Harbaugh coached Michigan for nine seasons before the Chargers hired him on Jan. 24.
In addition, the Chargers are expected to announce they have hired former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert in the next few days. Michigan's players raved about Herbert's work with them during the run-up to their national championship win over Washington last month.
Greg Roman, a former offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, is expected to be hired for the same job by the Chargers. Roman would replace Kellen Moore, who spent one season with the Chargers before being hired this week by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Roman, 51, and Harbaugh worked together when Harbaugh coached at Stanford and later with the 49ers. Roman also was on the staff of Harbaugh's
brother, John, while with the Ravens. Roman departed Baltimore after the Ravens' wild-card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2022 season.
Jay Harbaugh, Jim's son, also departed Michigan and is expected to be hired as the special teams coach with the Seattle Seahawks. It likely means the Chargers will retain Ryan Ficken as their special teams coordinator. Ficken has bolstered the Chargers' special teams play the past two seasons.
— Elliott Teaford
Moore joins Siriani's staff in Philadelphia
Head coach Nick Sirianni hired Kellen Moore as Eagles offensive coordinator to replace Brian Johnson, who was fired after Philadelphia capped its late-season fade with a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay in the NFC wild-card playoffs.
Before joining the Chargers, Moore was on the Dallas Cowboys' staff from 2018-22. He was offensive coordinator from 2019-22.
Dallas ranked second in the NFL in points per game and yards per game during Moore's four seasons as coordinator.
Raiders hire Getsy to be their new OC
The Las Vegas Raiders hired former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, going to their second option after Kliff Kingsbury withdrew from consideration Saturday.
New Raiders coach Antonio Pierce will be looking for Getsy to turn around an offense that this past season was 27th in yards per game (289.5) and 23rd in scoring (19.5-point average).
But Getsy, 39, was fired by the Bears after Chicago tied for 18th with 21.2 points per game, just five spots ahead of Las Vegas.
Getsy, however, might have been hindered by the lack of development of third-year quarterback Justin Fields as a passer.
He did oversee a Bears rushing attack that was second in rushing yards (2,399) and rushing yards per game (141.1).
Las Vegas management agreed in principle with Kingsbury on Thursday, but they failed to come to terms on a contract. Kingsbury then was hired Sunday to be Washington's offensive coordinator.
Giants bringing in Bowen to run defense
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll hired Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator, finding an experienced replacement for veteran coordinator Wink Martindale. The Giants and Martindale parted ways last month after Daboll fired two of Martindale's defensive assistants.
Bowen spent the previous six seasons in Tennessee. The Titans promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2021 after he spent his first three years as the team's outside linebacker's coach.
Tennessee led the league this season in red zone scoring defense — allowing touchdowns on 37.7% of drives inside the 20-yard line — goal-to-go scoring (42.9%), and third-down conversation rate in the red zone (23.4%).
During Bowen's tenure as DC, the Titans allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL (89.7 yards a game) and allowed a league-low 3.70 yards per attempt.
Daboll interviewed at least eight candidates for the job before picking Bowen. The 37-year-old Bowen became available when head coach Mike Vrabel and his assistants were dismissed after the Titans finished 6-11 and last in the AFC South.
Bieniemy won't return to Commanders staff
New Washington head coach Mike Quinn confirmed that Eric Bieniemy will not return after one season as offensive coordinator. Bienemy's future was murky after players criticized his approach and he interviewed for but did not get the Commanders head coaching job.
“We're not going to work together here, but in this coaching brotherhood, I wanted him to know, man I really respect what he's done,” Quinn said of Bieniemy, the former Bishop Amat High and Colorado standout who left the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff after 10 seasons to work under defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera in the hopes of earning a head coaching job somewhere around the NFL.
“I wish E.B. nothing but the best, and he'll do a great job. I was really pumped that he took his shot this year and went for it, and so I've got a lot of respect for him.”