Chargers: The book on new offensive coordinator Shane Steichen

For the first time since the end of the 2015 season, the Los Angeles Chargers will have someone other than Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays on offense.

Shane Steichen was given the position when the Chargers decided to part ways with Whisenhunt following a Week 8 victory over the Chicago Bears. The team’s offense had been stagnant for several weeks and head coach Anthony Lynn felt like it was the right time to make a move.

Steichen will take over play-calling duties for a 3-5 team still hoping it can find its way into the playoffs. But who exactly is the relatively-unknown Steichen? Here’s a look at his career resume:

A California native, Steichen is 34 years old and was born in Sacramento. He attended Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills.

He started out as an offensive assistant at the college level at Louisville in 2010. He stayed there for one season before joining the Chargers as an assistant on the defensive side of the ball in 2011.

After two seasons in that role, he was hired as an offensive quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns. Mike McCoy brought him back to the Chargers the following season as part of his staff. He was given the same role with the Chargers as an offensive quality control coach.

For the past three seasons, he has been the team’s quarterbacks coach since being promoted to that spot in 2016. As such, he has created a close relationship with Philip Rivers which helped the team’s decision to move on from “Whiz”.

Chargers QB coach Shane Steichen will call the offensive plays moving forward, Anthony Lynn confirmed to the So Cal News Group. Lynn said he’ll assist and OL coach Pat Meyer will be run game coordinator

— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) October 29, 2019

So how will the offense change with Steichen calling the plays? That remains to be seen. But it’s likely that Rivers will be more comfortable and play a little more loosely the rest of the season. It’s also a possibility that Melvin Gordon sees his role diminished a bit. Whisenhunt fed the ball to Gordon far too much once he returned from his holdout.

All in all, it was clear something with the team needed to change. Was this the right move? Time will tell. But teams around the league are consistently looking for the next young offensive mind, similar to what the Los Angeles Rams found in Sean McVay.

Steichen has slowly climbed the ladder and now has his shot to show that maybe he’s the next one.