The Chargers have a defensive coordinator vacancy to fill after Jesse Minter's departure to the Ravens. External interviews are underway. Last week, Los Angeles spoke to Ravens DC Zach Orr and Rams Pass Game Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Aubrey Pleasant.
The team also interviewed Titans DC Dennard Wilson in the process. But Wilson has reportedly opted to take New York's defensive coordinator position under new HC John Harbaugh.
The Chargers seem committed to an exhaustive DC search.
It is still possible that the Chargers will internally promote a current staff member to defensive coordinator. Realistic names for promotion include DBs coach Steve Clinkscale and DL coach Mike Elston. But the detailed external interview process means that the Chargers want to get a look at all of the possible candidates before making a decision.
Per an ESPN report from Rob Demovsky, the Chargers thought about another interesting external name. The Packers hired former Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon to their defensive coordinator position yesterday. Per Demovsky, both Harbaugh brothers were interested in Gannon's availability for their vacancies:
"A source also said Gannon was drawing interest from both Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh for their respective defensive coordinator openings with the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants, and if the Packers had waited any longer, they might have lost out on Gannon." -ESPN's Rob Demovsky
Gannon coached the number one ranked total defense in 2022 with Philadelphia before getting his first head coaching gig with Arizona. He went 15-36 in three seasons at the helm. While the defensive talent Gannon had to work with in Arizona wasn't optimal, the Cardinals' best total defense ranking finish was just 20th in 2024.
The Chargers showing interest in a high profile candidate like Gannon means that this is going to be a competitive search to replace Minter. And it should be.
Minter coached two back to back top 10 NFL defenses with the Chargers. Settling for just any candidate is something they can't afford. Minter truly maximized every player on the Chargers' defense. Odafe Oweh, Kristian Fulton, Donte Jackson, Troy Dye, Benjamin St-Juste, Poona Ford, the list goes on.
He turned several free agency bargains into very productive players. Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still were maximized as fifth-round pick corners.
While the Chargers won't be guaranteed to get Minter's level of production out of any coordinator hire, they should be aiming for the best candidate. If that ends up being someone internal like Clinkscale or Elston to keep continuity, great. But it's good that they're at least seeing what's out there in a deep pool of candidates.