Chargers request interviews with 6 head coach candidates

The Chargers wasted no time getting to business on Day 1 of the offseason as they requested interviews with six head coaching candidates.

The early list includes Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Johnson appears to be the hottest offensive coordinator candidate of the cycle, as he appears at the top of several teams’ odds lists. So far, he’s the only interview request candidate whose name has appeared on Chargers’ HC futures in sportsbooks. Johnson has been one of the engines in the Lions’ red-hot resurgence with Jared Goff. Playmakers like Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown have broken out under his watch in Detroit.

Glenn has been the defensive coordinator of the Lions for three seasons while boasting nearly a decade of coaching on his resume. He also has 15 seasons worth of NFL playing experience as a cornerback.

Wilks has head coaching experience with the Cardinals and an interim stint with Carolina. He has nearly 30 years of coaching experience between college and the NFL stints. He was the Chargers’ defensive backs coach from 2009 to 2011 before joining Ron Rivera’s staff in Carolina.

Graham has overseen the defenses of the Dolphins, Giants and Raiders. In 2023, Las Vegas finished eighth in points allowed and 11th in passing yards allowed.

Of note with Wilks, Glenn and Graham: They would fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement of interviewing external minority candidates.

After taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl as their head coach in 2016, Quinn became the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys in 2021 and quickly transformed their defense into one of the best units in the league.

Monken has revitalized the Ravens’ offense in his return to the pros behind an MVP campaign from Lamar Jackson. The two-time CFP national champion at Georgia also has offensive coordinator stops with Tampa Bay and Cleveland in the pros.

This list will presumably grow over the coming days, but these four names represent a start. Being that he’s not NFL personnel, Jim Harbaugh would not require a formal interview request.

The Chargers will also likely have a handful of names for general managers they’d like to interview. Considering the reported interest in Harbaugh, Colts’ assistant general manager Ed Dodds may make sense for an interview request.