Top 2024 NFL HC Candidates | Best Fit For Los Angeles Chargers | Jim Harbaugh, Ben Johnson & More

In this episode, Jake and Dan discuss the top Head Coaching candidates for the Los Angeles Chargers. The team needs a culture shift and a new vision. Who is the right person for the job? Jim Harbaugh, Ben Johnson, Bill Belichick, Frank Smith, Brian Flores, Bobby Slowik, Mike Tomlin, Mike McDonald, and more are discussed. Tune in!

Top 2024 NFL HC Candidates | Best Fit For Los Angeles Chargers | Jim Harbaugh, Ben Johnson & More

Hosted by Jake Hefner and Dan Wolkenstein from the LAFB Network, Chargers Unleashed is a sports-focused podcast providing Los Angeles Chargers fans, writers, and listeners with news, team and game breakdowns, unique and refreshing perspectives, as well as exclusive special guest episodes with several NFL and Chargers players, HOF announcers, writers, insiders. and NFL Draft prospects. Chargers Unleashed prides itself on providing authentic Chargers coverage as a voice for Chargers fans, and in collaboration with Chargers fans worldwide. Tune into Chargers Unleashed for the latest Chargers highlights, Chargers recaps, Chargers news, Chargers predictions, Chargers players and more.

Chargers Players discussed include Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams,, Rashawn Slater, Corey Linsley, Josh Palmer, Asante Samuel Jr, JC Jackson, Eric Kendricks, Daiyan Henley, Quentin Johnston, Tuli Tuipulotu, and much more. We also discuss Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley, OC Kellen Moore and the rest of the Chargers coaching staff.

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This is Donald param of the LA Chargers and you’re listening to Chargers unleash part of the LA football network say J welcome to another edition of chargers Unleashed J Kepner and Dan wienstein here with you from the LA football network Today Show of course being brought to you by Underdog fantasy ag1

Or aitt mobile and Rock Solid Sports member abilia if this is your first time tuning in the show make sure to hit that like And subscribe button on YouTube you can also follow us on Facebook Twitter Instagram Spotify and apple podcast and of course if you’re listening on ESPN

Radio thanks so much for tuning in we really appreciate it uh on this episode today we went through our GM breakdowns all of our candidates that we had for the potential filling of the Chargers GM opening with Tom Tesco now being out we went through all of those GM candidates

Just roughly about a week ago and now today we’re going to be breaking down all of our top head coaching candidates that especially over the next week you could really see some of those interviews pick up but before we jump into all of that Dan walkenstein how are

You sir I’m great I’m great we on the tail end of 2023 moving on to 2024 pumped for what is in store it’s going to be a fun episode today lots of Hope and excitement around the head coaching candidate and the cycle that we’re about to endure funny Chargers

Have a game against the Broncos this weekend and we’re not really talking about it much there’s a lot to see in it in terms of Youth potential All That Jazz we’re talking head coaches because that’s what matters in 2024 and Beyond and they’re not winning a Super Bowl this year so

We’re going to talk about guys who can possibly the ship to aardi Trophy but I’m doing good Jake how you doing good you know you know me mentally I’m already in 20124 uh more specifically April of 2024 when it comes to this a lot of our conversations have been uh

About offline but obviously as we gear up over these next two weeks the head coach and the GM positions for the Chargers are going to be what is talked about in a lot of conversations because the interviews are going to ramp up here very very very quickly as we get close

To the end of the 2023 regular season so Dan and I wanted to preface this in two type of ways this is how we wanted to structure it because we know that this has been a conversation that in certain circumstances has essentially divided Chargers fans whether it’s Char F

Divided no whether it’s the conversations of the people who want an experienced head coach because the Chargers under Tom Tesco went three firsttime head coaches with Mike McCoy with Anthony Lynn and then more recently with Brandon Staley so people want to go back to a more veteran presence because

They believe that that’s what’s needed with Justin Herbert at the helm or there are still the people that believe that based off of skill set and the way that the game has evolved and what you see from what these individuals are doing with their respectful teams as coordinators right now that the first

Time head coaches could still work out under a different GM and a different front office regime so we’re going to make cases for both and not discrediting anybody on what your whatever your views may be let you know let us know in the comments hell let us know what you feel

Are the right head coaching decisions and you rank them and put them in the comments make sure to do that so Dan let’s get into this let’s start off with the veteran presence which should shock nobody as far as who we’re going to have

At the top of this list but as I tease there just a little bit veteran head head coach getting away from this firsttime head coach is what a lot of people’s argument is right now and obviously you start that off with one of the individuals that’s going to

Be talked about a lot over this weekend when he goes up against his matchup against Alabama on New Year’s Day but it’s been teased a lot over the last couple of weeks will Jim Harbaugh be the next head coach of the Chargers Dan initial thoughts on this there’s so many things here that

Obviously make sense from Justin hert standpoint I think more of the question is you go out and you target a guy like Jim Harbaugh and you start thinking okay well what’s going to have to come with that outside of just the head coaching responsibilities the Chargers would have

To basically go outside of their comfort zone to financially financially and even from a front office standpoint in terms of creative control in terms of how this roster is going to be built so getting Jim Harbaugh while obviously would have to net a big price tag which John Spanos

Has said that they are not opposed to doing in this NE next head coaching search because they know how crucial it is for the next five years of development for Justin Herbert but we know how this Chargers front office has been organized and even regardless of whether Jim Harbaugh comes here and you

Get a GM in terms of giving that front office responsibility almost like a pseudo GM if you will there’s a good case to be made honestly for this for Jim Harbaugh considering the fact that what he’s done in Michigan for several years now knowing the type of college talent that not only that

He’s had under his belt or people that have played for him but people that he’s played against Great evaluator of college town in that in that circumstance great College head coach has proven that and then of course had his great stint with the 49ers before ultimately that ended up dissolving due

To a bad regime so just 50,000 foot view of this Jim Harbaugh is yours and mine number one head coaching regardless of Veteran or firsttimer but just your outlook on this in terms of bringing a guy like Jim Harbaugh into this organization yeah a lot there to unpack

And I think it’s important before talking about like specific candidates to talk about like qualities and characteristics that this Chargers team needs and then kind of matching those characteristics to the coach candidate Jim Harbaugh honestly checks almost every box I can think of for what this Chargers team lacks and

Needs more importantly than any of those things is the ability to bring an organization From the Ashes and rise to Championship expectations and competing for championships that happened again Ash is a championship level play happened everywhere he’s gone San Francisco Stanford Michigan all of those he brought those organizations to Championship contending titles

So we could talk about like the the characteristics of you know leader of men and pretty rough around the edges and will uh not he’s not afraid to ruffle feathers and he’s a kind of offensive coach in nature and he’s a quarterback’s guy and he brings with him

Kind of like a stature and respect and a kind of a commander type all all of those things are what this team needs and so as you go through when you look at these candidates experience or not which is another thing that Jim har about Trump’s probably everyone on this list except

For the guy over in New England but not for long experience matters to some to others not so much and you look at what like the the Spanos family said in that statement when they did let go of ton fesco and Brandon Staley of like they

Need a new vision and you could take that whichever way you want but what does New Vision look like literally new Forward Thinking new or new as in different than what they’ve had previously so the Jim Harbaugh stuff just just makes too much sense and there are so

There’s so much smoke going on right now and typically they say where there’s smoke there’s fire and there is smoke all across the country as it relates to Jim Harbaugh and the NFL but more importantly for the Chargers in his press conference he declined to answer any questions when

Asked directly about the potential taking over the Chargers head coaching position Dan there’s been rumors that have been swirling that you know hey could be leak news from his Camp whatever it may be just from the standpoint of you know hell think about this Dan there’s one or two ways you

Could look at this in the next week depending on whether or not Michigan beats Alabama Jim Harbaugh could be taking interviews if he hasn’t been talking to people on the back end anyways or let’s just think about this imagine if he wins the entire thing and

Then and then just say I’m going to go out like John Elway did when I won my last Super Bowl and go off on a high note and that would just be like the best send off possibly for his college coaching career given what he’s been

Trying to do there in Michigan for so long and then there’s you look at Michigan standpoint from again here’s where the financials come into play there’s been reports of them wanting to offer him a huge contract extension now whether or not this is this is true under the rumor mill this

Is but this is some of the things that have been out there and like said where there’s smoke there’s fire but from both sides I feel like Michigan especially if he won the thing I feel like Michigan would actually make a hard press to keep him now whether or not now whether or

Not Harbaugh would ultimately stay is is totally up up to him and could totally change that trajectory but I feel from both sides the Chargers in order to get Jim Harbaugh are gonna have have to open up their wallet regardless and it may be higher than what they originally expected to do but

To your point Dan in terms of everything that John Spanos said of changing the culture having a New Vision the starting quarterback that you have that’s still 25 years old where are you going to carry him over these next five years all of these things make sense to

Why Jim Harbaugh would be the number one choice why so sometimes I like to play the other side of this to kind of look around the corner if you will why would it not work why would he not be a good candidate and some people would say oh you know Ruffles feathers

And there have been questions there was stuff happening with San Francisco and the things happening with him and the leadership and kind of pushing his way out which is true like a lot of that I I would think is true it it looks like it was

True but to extrapolate that out and say that’s him in the his entire career you can’t say that’s true because literally right now Michigan is trying to give him $150 million for 10 years so you could say what you will about him running himself out of town or

Him you know not being a long-term solution but Michigan sure wants him to be a long-term solution so I I don’t think that one carries any weight anymore uh personality I think people say oh maybe he’s too much of a personality he might rub people the wrong way I don’t

Care I think that’s what this team needs is someone who it’s his culture establishes established by him fall in line it’s proven to work with him so Jake like what why what are the concerns if there are any there’s like everyone always has a weakness I just watched

Draft dat by the way there’s always a weakness can you live with it what is the weakness it’s really hard to pinpoint it though Dan I mean to your point I think the only potential weakness would be that the relationship that he ended up having with the San Francisco front

Office during his final years there at San Francisco now I feel like that you fast forward and obviously take into everything in account that has happened with Jim Harbaugh between that time and San Francisco up until now this is just simply the perfect scenario for he for him to come into because he

Almost came in the NFL last year by the way the Chargers currently still again are in the process of hiring a GM and I would believe that whichever head coach of the Chargers end up bringing in and whether or not they hire him before the GM or not that you’re

Going to have a collaborative partnership between both GM and head coach in this circumstance and so I would I would believe that if Jim Harbaugh was to come in here I don’t think that the same issues would necessarily arise that happened with San Francisco all those

Years ago and not to say that they wouldn’t overtime possibly is it’s still Poss on the people yeah yes but if you’re able to create that type of collaborative relationship if that’s the only weakness that we’re talking about with with Jim Hara hell the Chargers had had that issue back in 2006 between

Marty Schottenheimer and AJ Smith and we know how that ended up but I think from the standpoint of Jim experiencing that with San Francisco then you fast forward to now and all the success that he’s had at Michigan ever since and then with the possibility of getting his next shot at

A head coaching opportunity with a very very good quarterback at the helm I think you may be able to say Jim Harbaugh may not make that mistake twice whatever those conversations were even if they were mistakes made by him or whether they made by the front office I

Think that you pairing him with the GM at this point in time is the perfect thing to negate any of that thought process realistically Jim Harbaugh is probably the only option here other than maybe bill bich that it would make sense to hire him first to bring him and then a

GM everyone else that we’ll talk about here which again have some names here which we’ll get to both experienced and Forward Thinking first timers if they were to be a head coach probably need a GM first there there’s so many rumors swirling around the Chargers and Jim

Harbaugh and there’s a reason for that like he has a history with his team he played for this team he was around this organization back in San Diego often he was just a Disneyland like he was what 15 miles away from coasta Mesa where the team travels the team

Practiced where the Chargers practice this weekend like there there’s so many connections here and that stuff at the end doesn’t really it’s not that big a deal it really isn’t but you hear rumors that there’s already a deal in place you hear rumors that the Chargers and Jim Hara have already been in

Communication and that you’ve heard rumors that the Chargers have him high on their priority list you see it in National media people are talking about this like it makes sense and I do think while he is our number one option it is smart to not put all of

Your eggs in one basket correct which is why we’re having this conversation now there’s in all honesty probably three or four head coaching candidates that I would be excited about most excited would probably be Jim Hara but other than the three or four I think it’s smart to understand who’s

Out there I think it’s smart to understand kind of what they’re going up against but if we’re being honest Jake if any of the other folks other than the four realistically get the job I don’t know if Chargers fans are going to be excited about it I don’t

Know if National Media or feel people are going to think wow this is a new culture a new identity this is a new way of thinking for the team I don’t know the team is supposedly needing to swing big if they’re going to swing big three or four honestly if they’re

Swinging big two three maybe so experience versus inexperienced the first group we’re talking about here is experienced second group is inexperienced but lots of excitement generated because of their success in their current roles we say experience as experience head coaches versus just experienced coaches other experienced coaches that are possible candidates for the

Chargers bill bich which that comes with baggage and I think because of that baggage I’m out comes with comes with a lot of questions yeah it comes with a lot of questions now I understand there are a lot of chargers fans that want Bill belich to come and be the head coach of

This team well they want Bill bich the head coach right well I don’t know if people been that specific about you and I are being that specific about it others I don’t think they care regardless just it’s just get the arguably the greatest head coach in the history of the game

Over to this team is basically what their thought process uh real quick for everybody who’s listening on ESPN thank you so much for tuning in if you want to listen to this episode in its entirety make sure to go over to Chargers unleash on YouTube thanks so much for tuning

In so continuing with that again there’s a lot of questions around bill bich I get it from the standpoint of what he has done during his tenure in New England created and sustained a dynasty with Tom Brady that was the for the better part of two decades won six Super

Bowls I don’t think there’s anybody out there whether he’s from whether you’re talking New England or any other previous stint that he had from a defensive minded coach that bill bich is up there and what he can do from still to this day putting together a defense which the Chargers have been

Statistically bad in over the last three years I totally get that argument and why all of that would make sense however however how long is Bill bich g a coach for he’s 71 years old and this is a report coming from the Athletics Chad graph that actually had

Written that if Bill bellich and the New England Patriots were toart he’d be seeking upwards of 25 million per year now Spanos have said you know it’s kind of like uh John Hammond in Jurassic Jurassic Park spare no expense type of thing we’ll see how how true to their

Word they actually mean for this but expecting 25 million per year for a coach that 71 years old that you really don’t know how much longer he is going to be coaching for that’s a big question mark to me number two go on go on Dan no

I go ahead I I was gonna say even as kind of as Dan was alluding to this whole aspect of if you want Bill bich to come in here and be the head coach and just the head coach this is kind of the big kicker for me because you’re not paying bill

Bich and having him come in to be the head coach of this team for what he’s necessarily done over the why you take that into account yes what he’s done in New England is reputable can’t take that away from him but I’m looking at what he’s done post

Tom Brady and post Tom Brady especially on the offensive side of the ball it hasn’t looked pretty and because Bill bich has the GM R attached to his name in New England you go back and you look at some of those drafts over the last couple of years and we’ve talked about

Plenty of Tom Tesco drafts that have been failures over the last couple years it doesn’t look any better when you look at what the New England Patriots have done from a roster construction standpoint over those last few years I feel like Bill belich would still want that type of control for whatever

Coaching job that he would come into and that also gives me questions so there’s a fine line in terms of responsibilities is the biggest hurdle that would I guess point me in the other direction in this role to put it in so many words yeah and when I think of experience I mean

Point Blank there is no head coaching candidate either without a job or with a job in almost any profession aside from maybe college basketball for women that has had more success than Bill bich winningest head coach of Our Generation and you could argue one of the greatest head coaches of all

Time at this point I question the why for some of these head coaches and I think that’s important when you think about which coaches you want for this team how hungry do you think Bill bellich is right now honestly 71 whatever the age he is he won a crap ton with New

England what does another Super Bowl do for him other than he could win without Tom Brady which he’s been trying to prove for the last however many years he’s 25 million like is that his why is that what’s going to take for you to leave New England or to keep coaching

And you’re going to coach because you get paid a lot I don’t think that’s the coach I want he’s a great coach but I don’t know what’s in it for him honestly I genuinely don’t know if he is as hungry as bill bich was 15 years ago

You look at oh go sorry got D go ahead and we we’ll see like I don’t know if he’s coaching again like he might retire we don’t know that and so I don’t know if that’s the coach I I don’t want the coach on his last treads

I just don’t think that’s smart business for a team that needs to shift the culture only for that culture to probably retire in two years I just don’t think that’s smart for folks tuning in on ESPN Radio thank you again as Jake said you can find us on lacore

Unleash on X you can listen to the rest of this on Twitter anywhere you get your uh podcast Spotify Apple podcast Etc but Jake I just don’t I just don’t know and that’s not even talking about the GM hat so I know we’ve got a little long here

On these two experienced guys but it was required there are some others that have experienced I think we should at least mention again these are some of the guys I don’t necessarily know either a are that likely to even be available or be would really move the needle we’ve heard

Rumors of a Mike Tomlin first you heard rumors that he was going to get fired which is so crazy to me now it doesn’t seem like it because possib end up over 500 yet again yep um Dan the T I mean obviously if for some reason Mike Tomlin became available I

Mean this would shift this whole list dramatically in my opinion because if he became available 31 other teams should be on the phone with his representation immediately it’s really wild considering how long he has been a head coach and not once still with the pending 2023 final season result that he has never

Had a losing season that is that is impressive yep the other ones have been thrown around Dan Quinn is another one that’s been thrown around Dan you have mentioned this one in particular and this is another one that I’m just I’m a little iffy on and I get it you’re looking experience

You go to this is the guy who helped lead the Atlanta Falcons along with Kyle Kyle Shanahan to the Super Bowl unfortunately ended in one of the the wor the worst comeback losses in the history that all New England fans love to rub in in Dan Quinn’s face um but

This has a little bit of and and and I’m not trying to to put Brandon Steely down in this circumstance but this has a little bit more of that kind of feel for me just from the standpoint of what Dan Quinn has been able to do with the Dallas Cowboys and

When you look at Dallas Cowboys defense that defense is loaded over there stacked so there are some positives that you can maybe look at this to say okay if Dan Quinn was to come over and be the head coach you could possibly see a reason to keep Kell Moore for whatever

That is worth to anybody obviously people have differing opinions on him but in the in the standpoint of keeping continuity for Justin Herbert for an offensive coordinator standpoint and they have familiarity with working together I could see all that but Dan Quinn as coming over I I’m

Not sure from the standpoint I I I it it it gives me too much of the Brandon stealey feels as far as are you riding off of the results of the talent that Dallas has and can you replicate that when you know you’re already now at an aging

Defense are you going to be able to replicate some of those results I’m hesitant on that but I understand the reasons why people can make an argument Dan Quinn yeah I think there’s something to be said about coaches who have you know risen then have fallen then have kind of

Picked themselves back up and have risen again and I think about like how Brandon Staley is probably going to have to shift his career a little bit you know he rose real quick then fell with the Chargers and is gonna have to pick himself up again Dan Quinn is kind of an

Example of a coach who Super Bowl appearance lost kind of got shot back down and has now had that Dallas defense humming for years I think it’s like five years three four five years he already interviewed for jobs last year for head coaching candidate and apparently according to

Sources he probably would have taken him if the Cowboys hadn’t given him a bump of salary so he’s there and I think he’s a good defensive mind and he is definitely a culture shift from what the Chargers have had leader of men and possibly bringing the secondary coach over

Wouldn’t be a bad thing either from the Cowboys but the one thing that I do put some weight in for any of the coaching candidates that are out there that are defensive minded is that does not bode well for consistency for Justin Herbert and that’s the one thing that he has not had

Throughout his college or NFL career is is any sort of consistency with offensive scheme he has gone through so many offensive coordinators in schemes through his career and it’s not fair I know it’s life he’s a franchise quarterback but that is not fair for a quarterback who’s supposed to be going

As far as he should and so that’s probably the biggest deterrent for me it’s not the experience it’s not the you know any of that it’s just the fact that he’s on the defensive side and with that comes churn whereas if you went a Harbaugh or we went

Someone else we’ll talk about here in a bit doesn’t matter who the offensive coordinator is because the head coach is the guy who has the mind and sets the stage so Dan Quinn’s out there you’ve got guys like I don’t know you could talk about Brian Flores was the last one that I

Wanted to get into before we jumped into the firsttime head coaches but there’s also guys like Jim Schwarz and Frank re and all the other names that are out there like go the argument of experience versus you know firsttime head coaches for as many firsttime head coaches that have

Failed go look at the ones who’ve had experience in failed too so it’s not about the experience only there’s a lot of things that go into it that’s not the thing that deter that determines if a Coach is going to succeed in my opinion but you mention

Brian Flores Brian Flores I just I really like what he has done with his kind of resurgence as a defensive coordinator especially with Minnesota there’s been pieces that have been written as far as schemes that he has ripped from college football and come up with a very unique defense that Minnesota has

Run and of course when you go back and you think about it’s like okay that this Brian Flores came up through the New England Patriots then he saw his head coaching tenure during Miami and that did that didn’t end in the most spectacular fashion from Personnel from front

Office lawsuit whatever you want to call it but from a standpoint I think if you look at a potential retread and you could take away things that Brian Flores has learned in that circumstance and I just like what he’s bringing to the table if anybody wants to make the argument for another defensive

Coordinator defensive mind to be the head coach of this team even though that Dan and I personally believe that it should be an offensive mind Le head coach of this team next just to help take Justin Herbert to the next level that he needs to be at but Brian Flores

As a defensive-minded head coach and then what you see what he’s done now as a coordinator after his tenure as a Miami head coach I really like it I really like what I’ve seen you go and you look at those schemes and what he has been able

To create it’s also freaking fun man he blitzes more than anybody it’s crazy You’ be a little White Knuckle the whole way but it’d be fine yes and and blitzing yeah there’s definitely a lot of risk in it when you Blitz that much because Justin Herbert proved against

That very defense what he could do to it when you Blitz that much but I would really like to see a Brian Flores in consideration for head coaching candidate regardless of whether it’s charges or not I think he’s earned it and I think he’s one of the better

Retread options that’s out there so I wouldn’t be disappointed with it and I would be interested to know that if if that ended up being the case how that staff would be constructed and how this defense would ultimately change that has me intrigued for the future no doubt about

It yeah so other side of the coin is I don’t I hate saying inexperience but first time head coaching candidates probably the better way to say it there’s so many candidates out there and you can go on and on and on and Jake and I are gonna go through a handful

Here but again like we said earlier there’s probably a short list of guys that I think would actually move the needle that Chargers fans and again you said it like people are split on which coaching candidates they want they’ll always will be but there’s probably only a few of these first-time head coaching

Candidates that a good chunk of chargers fans would be excited about I think the top of the list oh go ahead sorry sorry but before you get to the top one which should be obvious to everyone who we’re gonna talk about here in a second I want to just preface with

This and this is again why we’re separating it like this because we’re making Arguments for both sides of the you know experience versus firsttime head coaches and for anybody obviously thinking that the track record that the Chargers have had over the their last three first-time head coaches in Mike

McCoy Anthony Lynn most recently Brandon Staley remember who the common denominator was between those three and that was Tom Tesco that’s number one number two you could look at so many other examples in this league from firsttime head coaches with very similar tenures as far as Brandon Staley’s was and how fast they

Rose up and now you see the success that they’re currently at Hell Nick serani who was a member of this organization for years was an off was an offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons before he got the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching position I would say that his results

Have spoken pretty well over the last couple years the person who was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles before Nick serani Doug Peterson you know how long Doug Peterson was an offensive coordinator for and held that title for for Kansas City for two years before he

Got the job for the Philadelphia Eagles took them to their Super Bowl pretty damn good look at the Miami Dolphins ah you go back and you look at how many firsttime head coaches that they have recycled over and over and over again Dan Cam Cameron remember Cam Cameron

When he was the offensive coordinator of this team Cam Cameron was a first time head coach in Miami obviously didn’t go so well Tony Spano was a first-time head coach then it was Joe Filman who was the renowned Guru in Green Bay at that time

And he did not end up doing well during his first coaching stint Dan Campbell ended up being the inter term head coach when Joe Filman was out then you had Adam gase you had Adam gase oh man then you had Brian Flores and then you ultimately land on

Mike McDonald and before excuse me Mike McDaniel and before you ended up getting Mike McDaniel Mike McDaniel was an offensive coordinator for one season for one season last but I want to make an example of Dan and this is and this is more notice notably about the game last

Night look at what Kevin stefansky has done with the Cleveland Browns good Lord here was a guy who was an offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons before he took the head coaching gig in Cleveland in 2020 and yes it probably hasn’t been the

Easiest path to get there but you just look at this season in a microcosm losing your star running back losing multiple offensive linemen you’re on your fourth quarterback you essentially took Joe flacko from eating funions on his couch to throwing touchdowns in Cleveland and you have now secured a

Playoff spot and still could potentially take them far with the way that they’re playing right now there is basically to sum everything up there there is no single formula to follow that is a guarantee for Success so with that Dan let’s attempt to make the case for the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben

Johnson there’s a lot to love about Ben Johnson and I think that first off uh new part of charges unleash Jason ble he did a excellent piece on Ben Johnson his scheme why it’s effective how it could work with Keenan Allen how it has worked with motion and Sam La pora and Alan

Rosain Brown there’s a lot to be said about Ben Johnson and what he has done for the culture for the consistency for the production for the players of that Detroit Lions team if there was one candidate that has not been a head coach before that I would trust for this

Chargers team it would be Ben Johnson there are a couple others that are intriguing but what Ben Johnson has done not only what he’s doing this year with the talent that He has but what he has built from the talent they did not have is something that should be acknowledged and

Applauded because not so long ago that line team was a joke and penil it as a win for every other team week one going into Kansas City this team goes and wins and you go look at their record this year and look how well they have performed how consistently they’ve been running and

Passing with those guys it’s impressive and that follows a mold of if he was going to be the head coach he’s an offensive mind he would stay with Justin Herbert you can kind of hitch those two wagons together which again Justin hasn’t had before it makes

Sense so when you look at the two kind of top candidates Jim Harbaugh Ben Johnson they are very different in a lot of regards but they are also similar similar offensive minded similar quarterback Guru similar scheme Sim similar built culture built a successful Organization for the ground dump reaping the rewards now different

Experience I think some of the The Moxy if you will probably leans towards Jim Harbaugh bit but Ben Johnson has it too the team needs someone who is not afraid to speak up publicly in private and shift the culture B based on experience and success that they’ve

Had I know people want to poo poo the Lions but what they’ve done is impressive so yeah I think he’s number two for me you talk about being part of a culture shift I mean the attitude that Dan Campbell has brought into that locker room has carried with coaches and

Players alike so Ben Johnson knows what a culture shift feels like what’s required for it and what I really like for from Ben Johnson as opposed to not necessarily other candidates on this list then but people who may be poo pooing the idea to say oh he only has

You know two years of coordinator experience you know the Chargers have already been through that they’ve done that we don’t need that again well he’s also been with that Organization for really almost about five years and he’s worked his way up significantly with one organization not saying a linebacker’s

Coach here or a defensive coordinator’s here or you know whatever it may be if you’re trying to follow the next line from Brandon Staley and what that was like he’s part of an organization that in 2019 the Detroit Lions were not a good team no and basically have been on the

Bad side of relevancy for the past 30 years and now look at what has taken place over those last two years since Dan Campbell has come in there and do it and and taking the Reigns and what I really liked was Ben Johnson when the head coaching interviews were coming out

Last year Dan Ben Johnson took his name out of contention he wanted to go back to the Lions because of what was being built there the culture that was being built there the Personnel that had been built there and now you look at the results just a year later and they kind

Of speak for themselves so you’ve heard a lot of like reports coming out saying that he’s demanding 15 million a year for a first- Time head coach and honestly I read that report and I immediately thought this has to be either disinformation from the Lions to not get people

Interested but there’s no way that I could see somebody’s rep I mean he’s going to be the number one of the top candidates no doubt about it there there’s going to be a bidding war for him but I struggle to believe that for a first- Time head coach that this would

Be the type of information that would be leaked before head coaching interviews are to be interviews are even to be had at this point so I was very I was I was a bit skeptic about that report I don’t know necessarily how true that is going to be

Because some people when they read that they automatically took him off the list but I read that and I’m just like I’m thinking between the lines and it didn’t sound like the most accurate type news to me that that that that type of report would leak at this point in time yeah

Sounded like a negotiation tactic yes honestly so yeah Ben Johnson number one I think for both of us of the first time head coaching options Ben Johnson number one then after that there’s a few here that we can talk about Bobby slowick for me not a name

That a lot of people know but what he did in San Francisco with that offense as a coordinator I think it was a passing game coordinator then brought over to the Texans and you’re seeing what that what he did in the first year with those rookies in that offense they’re a

Playoff team even with CJ stoud missing a few games with a concussion that Texans team talk about a culture shift another joke of a franchise for a lot of people externally that team looks fun promising and they got some dudes that culture has been shifted

Bobby slowick is a part of that and that offense great mind I like him a lot give yourself credit too D because you were big on the Bobby slowick offensive coordinator role for last year before Kell Moore ultimately ended up taking the jobs so Dan’s a big Bobby SLO

Fan yeah but there like the list of the you know firsttime head coaches would be up there’s a lot of guys you can talk about Eric benmy who’s a name you’ve heard for a long time that’d be kind of interesting to see him being pulled from the Chiefs as the

Commanders now but imagine him coming back to the Chargers Eric benamy versus the Andy Reed like I’m I’m here for that give me some popcorn do I think he’s the best candidate no but there’s a bunch of guys that are on this list that like again we’re talking about the guys now

Who I don’t think move the needle for most but they’re candidates and the Chargers talked about casting a wide net do you think that there’s a realistic possibility and I say this not from the standpoint of the Chargers being interested because I think they should do you think that Frank Smith

Would consider coming back and being the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers remember he was the Run game coordinator and the offensive line coach in 2021 which arguably was the last time that this offensive line saw any success and this running game Saw any success I like

Frank Smith man I really like Frank Smith as well and look at what that Dolphins offense looks like how freaking this is in his and this is in his one year essentially as as the offensive coordinator it now you can argue you can argue the offense

Kind of similar to what you said about Dan Quinn you can argue that that offense is loaded with Playmakers right and that I mean it’s true and pardon me it’s his second year as offensive coordinator but regardless yes to your point Dan look what he’s

Done I like Frank Smith I really do he’s probably in that same tier that’s right below Ben Johnson for firsttime head coaching candidates that if they don’t go Ben Johnson they don’t go Jim Harmar for whatever reason he’s that next tier I think the last one that I would consider Dan and

Again we’ll get to the rankings here in just a second when you look at what Mike MCD Mike I always confuse Mike McDaniel and Mike McDonald it’s just way too damn close Mike McDonald what he has been able to do with that Ravens defense and again this would be very much in the

Same type of line of the upand cominging rise of Brandon Staley that he saw shoot up so fast Mike McDonald’s another example of that and I totally get that but I I again this is from the standpoint of the Chargers casting a wide net I while I definitely believe that they have their

Favorites you have to think of a reality that they may not be able to get some of those top guys you you just do and if that should be the case then they shouldn’t necessarily P pigeonhole themselves into an offensive guy a defensive guy experienc first time they shouldn’t necessarily you know put

Themselves in that position they’ve gone they’ve gone all in before and unfortunately that hasn’t worked out for us so I don’t think that they should go all in in this circumstance even though I know how favorable it is still have your contingency plans in place yep but agree

But Mike McDonald Dan I I love what he’s done with that Baltimore defense again if we’re if we’re looking at it from two sides of coin to say who’s going to be able to take Justin Herbert to the next level but also how are you gonna improve the

Defense I don’t necessarily think that Mike McDonald would be coming over as a as a head coach and necessarily take up the same defensive coordinator responsibilities like Brandon Staley did I do believe that there would be a defensive coordinator under Mike McDonald in that circumstance but I

Think as one of the guys who’s probably going to get head coach consideration whether it’s this year for the Chargers or any other team he’s definitely somebody that’s going to have a head coaching position in the years to come so Jake let’s get to it stack rank let’s go opposite direction let’s just

Do top three three to one three to one okay so I will preference this because my thought process is that I feel that the Chargers need an offensive-minded head coach for their next hire and because of that whether we’re we’re counting in experience or not that’s how I’m

Tailoring my position so yes they going to hear some people that me not mention but that’s how I’m tailoring my argument for this specific one and if that’s the case then I would have to say that it’s probably Frank Smith at number three Frank Smith at number three for

Me familiarity with the Chargers again what he had assisted in doing for that offensive line for that running game if you want to help invest in Justin Herbert you want to improve that offensive line the Run game obviously has been atrocious if not non-existent for the Chargers all season long I feel

Like he would have a very creative way to bring that back to relevancy for this team and as Dan mentioned look what he has assisted in doing in Miami over the last couple of years since he’s been the offensive coordinator it’s been really impressive and if you want to think about some of

Those creative tactics that Miami has done offensively to create mismatches get guys out in space I would love to see Frank Smith instill that in Justin Herbert and this Chargers offense so because of that standpoint I’m putting him at number three number two should be a surprise to nobody but

Ben Johnson Ben Johnson I feel like has and as Jason had pointed out on his blueprint show you talk about the creativity that he has been able to put up for that Lions team and what they have been able to do consistently on a weekly basis in terms of putting up

Points coming up with creative ways to find mismatches in a defense I feel like the Forward Thinking approach that John Spanos is talking about the cultures changed and then finally my number one obviously Jim Harbaugh culture change winning formula think about how enticing this is for Jim

Harbaugh from a standpoint of what he’s done at Michigan to to consider coming to back to the NFL with a quarterback like Justin Herbert with a top 10 pick in the NFL draft getting the opportunity to kind of be the pseudo GM in certain points as far as Player Development

Goes that would be what you’re looking for that would be a culture shift that would be outside the Chargers Norm in terms of getting them to Pony up for an experienced winning head coach to be able to carry their quarterback over the next five

Years I like it I like it three to one again I’m gonna go to the characteristics I think this team needs it needs a culture shift someone who can shift the culture it needs a strong identity and presence in the locker room on the field in the media scouting

Player Development the whole thing they need someone with a strong presence they need somebody that can bring success proven success to this team they need someone who can collaborate with others so with that oh the other thing you also got a franchise quarterback that you have to lift up and allow him to

Thrive so number three I thought about taking the E way out and just saying Mike Tomlin but I’m just gonna pretend that Mike tomlin’s not even on the list because I don’t think he is if he comes on the list if if he is your list might change changes for right

Now I think I’m with you 100% on all three I think you and I are aligned top to bottom one through three in did not expect that yes didn’t expect that at all yes all three I think bring all those qualities some more than others but all three of those bring

Those qualities some of the other guys would be enticing but if I put out all the pros and cons and again going back to draft day everybody has a weakness can you live with it love how Dan is dropping Draft Day narratives in here right now it was a beautiful thing

Last night by the way got me so jazzed for April the weaknesses from some of the other candidates it’s not necessarily their fault but given the roster and given what the team is needing it kind of makes me say you know Shark Tank style like for those Reasons I’m

Out and I think I’m at that point for any defensive guy and it’s not their fault but Justin Herbert needs a guy that can ride with him through all of it through all the changes he needs that he should have that I’m curious Dan if the comments haven’t destroyed us already for the

Lack of Bill bich in the rankings I’m curious to know where he would have been in your rankings again let’s consider this that he would be only the head coach and not coming here with GM responsibilities but see like that that’s a big disclaimer because because that’s not going to

Happen there’s no way that’s also one of the reasons why he’s not on our top three exactly there’s no way bill bich is coming here and getting a demotion and also getting paid $25 million it doesn’t make sense and if I was him I wouldn’t do it hell no so but

In a pie in the sky world where he’s just a head coach making $25 million he’s probably three he might be three and although he is a defensive-minded head coach he’s proven that with a talented quarterback he can ride with him and set it up for Success the other guys haven’t right so

You pair arguably the best coach of all time with one of the best offensive in the NFL sound familiar so he would be four for me again my reservations still stand on what it is if we’re if if literally this was a world where it ended up happening

Might too not now that you say that he might be four because what he’s coming here for money and you don’t know how much longer he’s going to coach I mean you look at guys like Pete Carroll that are still coaching right remember Bruce arens I

Mean he was getting up there before he ended up winning the Super Bowl and didn’t last much long after that again it’s it’s more for tenure it’s a financial standpoint and to Dan’s point that he made are you comfortable given his track record over the last three years not

What he did for 20 years with Brady but are you comfortable looking at that those draft classes and if you were to compare those with what Tom Tesco has done over the last three years if if you’re looking for improvement in that circumstance I’m not sure bill bich has the best resume over

The last three years to do that I’m not taking away anything that he did during his Super Bowl runs nobody can ever take that away from him and that is one of the reasons why a lot of people say that this would make sense to have this be

Kind of his last harah with with one other team to go get a Super Bowl to prove it that he could do without Tom Brady but again how far is this Chargers team away right now and how how much longer is Bill bich going to be coaching for those

Are the things that raises the biggest eyebrows to me so he would be four if we were really ranking this list in its entirety there’s a lot of things that play here but this is a coaching candidate that this franchise is so desperately needing like we haven’t even talked

About the macros of being in LA and trying to compete with other teams and compete with the narratives of being cheap and to stay relevant in the LA and the NFL we haven’t talked about any of that but like it’s it’s all also important this is such an important hire

For this team but probably most important is the fact that you have a franchise quarterback that 25 other teams would trade for in a heartbeat you have to hit on the head coach and set him up for Success because currently the first four years you can point blame at everybody doesn’t matter

The first four years have not been a success for this organization while having Justin Herbert period they have to fix it and who is the guy who can fix that who is best positioned to fix that to change the culture to shift the narrative to bring success consistency and respect to this

Team we went long today but I think it’s important because obviously this is an important decision head coaching job general manager job all two both of those they have to link together 100 per. so and please in the comments tell Dan and I why we were 100% wrong I love

It on our list we’re never wrong though we’re never wrong please rank your list and how who your priorities for head coaches are who you favor tell us why we always love this type of discussion because as Dan said this is a huge huge hiring decision

For the Chargers both GM and head coach alike and it’s going to get very interesting over these next few weeks I I say we’re never wrong but honestly to some of our listeners viewers we’re never right is really what no no no we’re we’re never right zero oh man uh

This is going to be a crazy next few weeks buckle up because like Jake said as soon as possibly next week Monday night things could be in motion depending on what happens in that Alabama Michigan game real quick as a Chargers fan are you rooting for a win

Or a loss for Jim there it’s it’s kind of weird because like from Jim standpoint he’s like the one thing that’s alluded him so far in Michigan is winning the whole damn thing all right it took him so long to get over another hump earlier during his tenure in

Michigan the one thing that everybody said that he just was never going going to be able to do finally did it but from the standpoint of winning the college championship it’s almost like I would want him to just come over and end this drama and go come over be one and done

In the playoffs let’s just put everything to bed right now you know put everybody out of their misery and just make the announcement that you’re G to be the head coach of the Chargers which is gonna just throw this fan base into a great frenzy but then there’s also a part of

Me to say like you know what if he’s gonna go out if this is gonna be his last year ABS try to go all the way totally I’m with you I think I’m torn because I’m curious which one of those would have him stay like which one

Is the most likely for him to stay if he doesn’t win ah I gotta win one if he stays dang top of the mountain you can make arguments on both sides yeah so I just want I just want him his team especially the offense to crush it and

Then the rest is history for Jake hfer Dan wilin sign charg leash La football network guys gals thank you so much for tuning in Happy New Year we probably will not talk to you before the start of 2024 thank you guys and gals for everything that you have done for us

Viewing listening contributing comments likes subscribes all of them can’t do it without you excited for what’s coming in 2024 lots of things and store but until then we’ll talk to you next time on Chargers Unleashed