LA Chargers: What Anthony Lynn’s next job should be

LA Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn may not be the coach heading into the 2021 season.

A lot can change in the span of 10 months but as of right now, many would guess that Anthony Lynn will not be the head coach of the LA Chargers to start the 2021 season.

The Chargers have been extremely disappointing this season — despite having a tremendous surprise in Justin Herbert — and Lynn is (rightfully) taking most of the blame. The Chargers have blown multiple two-possession leads with all seven of their losses coming by one possession.

Lynn has not made great decisions in key moments, Gus Bradley’s defense has gotten exposed terribly and George Stewart’s special teams unit is the worst in the league and it is not particularly close.

Many Charger fans believe that this season will be Lynn’s last and that the team will move on to a new head coach next season. In fact, it would not be shocking to see an entire coaching overhaul.

Of course, there is the possibility that the organization gives Lynn another chance. They did agree to an extension earlier this year that keeps him with the team through the 2021 season. Another slow start next year would absolutely lose him his job but it is not a guarantee that he will be gone after this season.

Personally, I think it is better to cut ties with Lynn after the season rather than drag this into (and potentially ruin) next season. Regardless of when it happens, though, what his next job should be is quite clear.

Anthony Lynn’s next job should not be in the NFL.

I am not trying to say this in a negative sense but Lynn should move on from the NFL and find a college coaching job once his tenure with the LA Chargers does end. Lynn’s profile and coaching-style would be perfect at the collegiate level, it just does not work at the NFL level.

Lynn is a great player’s coach and motivator, that is without a doubt. Plus, there is no reason to believe that Lynn is not a fantastic human being. He genuinely seems like one of the best guys in football and that is very valuable.

It is extremely valuable for something that does not happen in the NFL but happens in college football: recruiting. Anthony Lynn would be a tremendous recruiter and a fantastic head coach at the college level.

Not only is he someone who could connect with these young athletes but he is something that is going to stand by them to the brink of the earth (sometimes to a fault) but is also going to hold them accountable and help them grow as young adults. He has had a no-nonsense approach to the LA Chargers as well.

Lynn does not have much experience calling plays and has proven to not be great situationally. That is going to hurt his chances of getting a coordinator job anywhere. Sure, he could be a running backs coach somewhere, but I doubt he takes that big of a fall from grace.

Instead, he should mull his options at the collegiate level and take a crack at being a head coach there. There undoubtedly will be Division 1 programs that are interested in him because of his pedigree and his potential as a recruiter.

Heck, Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells has been pretty bad in his short tenure as head coach. There is the possibility of that job opening up and Lynn returning to his alma mater.

At the end of the day, Anthony Lynn’s days as the head coach of the LA Chargers are limited and there is a reason why he has not been very successful as an NFL head coach. Perhaps it is time to transition to a level of football that better fits his coaching style.