The Los Angeles Chargers aren't entering the 2026 offseason with the stability they had a year ago. After firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman and watching defensive coordinator Jesse Minter leave to become a head coach, Jim Harbaugh has two massive decisions to make.
He's still in the early stages of his search for a defensive coordinator, but it looks like he's already avoided a potential landmine.
The Green Bay Packers announced on Sunday morning that they are hiring former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon as their new DC. According to a recent report, the Chargers might have made the hire if Green Bay hadn't.
Chargers avoid disaster as Packers hire Jonathan Gannon
According to ESPN NFL insider Rob Demovsky, the Chargers may have been closer to hiring a new defensive coordinator than anybody expected. In an article discussing the Packers' hire, Demovsky said, "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."
The report indicates that the Chargers and the New York Giants may have hired Gannon within the next few days if Green Bay hadn't done it first. Apparently, Gannon was in high demand for defensive coordinator positions after the Cardinals let him go. But losing the sweepstakes for him might come as a blessing in disguise.
While Arizona's defense has often performed above its talent level under Gannon, the former head coach wasn't even the one calling plays. He's known for a relatively conservative defensive scheme, while Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis led the charge on the team's creative solutions to its lack of talent. In fact, Gannon hasn't called plays since 2022, when he was the DC for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chargers need someone who can maximize every player on defense. Minter was able to give his unit a schematic advantage over nearly every opponent while establishing a clear identity of physicality and technical excellence. Without him, LA could be set to take a major step back on defense if Harbaugh doesn't find the perfect replacement.
Hiring Gannon to replace Minter as defensive coordinator would have been a critical mistake, potentially setting the Chargers back in their pursuit of contention. Thanks to the Packers, fans in Los Angeles can keep their eye on other candidates.