CHARGERS ALTER COACHING STAFF
The Chargers fired special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II and assistant special teams coach Mayur Chaudhari on Friday after one season.
Both were hired a year ago as part of Brandon Staley’s initial staff.
The Chargers struggled on special teams to open the season but showed steady progress, particularly after kicker Dustin Hopkins and return man Andre Roberts were signed before Week 8.
Hopkins finished 18 of 20 on field goals and 30 of 32 on extra points with the Chargers. Roberts was second in the NFL with a kickoff return average of 27.3 yards. He had a 101-yard return for touchdown in Week 17 against Denver.
Injuries and a lack of depth on the roster forced the Chargers to use several inexperienced players on special teams. Their leading tackler, Nick Niemann, was a rookie. Three of the top four Chargers in special teams snaps were rookies.
Swinton has coached in the NFL for 12 seasons, including another one-year stint as special teams coordinator with the 2016 San Francisco 49ers. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 2007.
Before joining the Chargers, Chaudhari spent three seasons as a special teams assistant with Atlanta.
JEFF MILLER
Five players unanimous All-Pros
Five players, including dynamic pass catchers Cooper Kupp and
Davante Adams, are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2021 NFL All-Pro Team.
Joining the Rams’ Kupp and the Packers’ Adams in receiving votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league are Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor, Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, and Rams defen
sive tackle Aaron Donald.
While Donald is a perennial pick — the three-time Defensive Player of the Year makes the team for the seventh time in his eight pro seasons — Watt is on it for a third time. He tied the NFL record for sacks with 221⁄2. Adams makes it for the second time, and the other two are newcomers as AllPros. Kupp led the NFL in receptions (145), yards receiving (1,947) and TD catches (16). Taylor was the top rusher by a landslide with 1,811 yards and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground, two as a receiver.
“Obviously, it’s an honor to be recognized, and it wouldn’t be possible without my coaches and incredible teammates, but the awards and accolades aren’t what drives me,” said Watt, whose Steelers play at Kansas City on Sunday. “It’s competing with and for them, this franchise, and this city, that drives me. My coaches and teammates are the people that put me in a position to make splash, help us win, and this recognition honestly doesn’t come without them.”
Notable
The Chicago Bears interviewed former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and New Orleans Saints Assistant General Manager Jeff Ireland for their vacant coach and GM jobs. Flores was fired Monday by Miami after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years. Ireland was Miami’s general manager from 2008 to 2013. The Dolphins won the AFC East at 11-5 his first season after going 1-15 in 2007.
• The New York Giants have interviewed two members of the Tennessee Titans’ front office for their vacant general manager’s job. Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and senior vice president of player personnel Chris Mara, the owner’s brother, spoke with Ryan Cowden and Monti Ossenfort by videoconference. Cowden is the Titans’ vice president of player personnel and Ossenfort is in his second year as Tennessee’s director of player personnel.