Tag: Coaches

Chargers coaching staff tracker: Who will Jim Harbaugh hire?

Here are the latest updates in the Chargers’ coach staff hires.

The Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh to a five-year deal to be their new head coach.

Los Angeles’ next thing to do will be to hire a new general manager, but Harbaugh will fill out the coordinator and assistant roles on staff soon after.

As of now, there are some reports that Harbaugh could bring some members of the Michigan staff, including defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh. But nothing has been confirmed yet.

We will keep you up to date with the latest news in the coaching hires along Harbaugh’s staff, but nothing is official until the team announces it as such.

Here are the latest updates on the Bolts’ coaching staff hires:

17 ex-Saints will compete in AFC, NFC Championship Games

17 ex-Saints players and coaches will compete in the AFC, NFC Championship Games for a shot at advancing to Super Bowl LVIII:

The New Orleans Saints won’t be competing in this weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship Games, but many of their former players and coaches will be fighting for the chance to advance to Super Bowl LVIII.

By our count, 17 former Saints have a shot at moving on to the final stage — here’s a quick look at the list suiting up for the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Former Saints co-DC’s Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard could reunite with Jaguars

Former Saints co-defensive coordinators Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard could reunite with the Jaguars:

It’s shaping up for a reunion of New Orleans Saints coaches in Jacksonville — after hiring Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator when he went one-and-done with the Atlanta Falcons, the Jaguars are interviewing one of his former coworkers. KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson reports that the Jaguars interviewed Kris Richard for an undisclosed role on Nielsen’s staff.

Nielsen and Richard worked together under Dennis Allen for two years and served as co-defensive coordinators during the 2022 season; Richard left the Saints in what was characterized as a mutual split, while Nielsen was hired away in a promotion with the Falcons. The Jaguars fired their entire defensive staff after the 2023 campaign, so Richard would be a natural fit working with the secondary.

Richard previously interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders head coach opening, though that job ultimately went to Antonio Pierce after a strong performance in-season as their interim coach. If Richard and Nielsen do team up together, it’s worth wondering whether any of their former players might join them in Jacksonville as free agents in the spring.

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Several Saints assistants working with 2024 draft prospects at Shrine Bowl

Several Saints assistant coaches are working with 2024 draft prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl. New Orleans added 8 players from last year’s event:

The New Orleans Saints will have a heavy presence at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, which makes sense given how many future NFL players have participated in the event. And the 2024 draft class is following that pattern.

Three Saints assistant coaches have been assigned to work with draft prospects at this year’s Shrine Bowl, all on the West Team. It’s as good an opportunity for future pros to work with NFL coaches as it is for each of these men to advance their careers.

Here’s a quick look at them and the players they’ll be working with:

Saints assistants Kodi Burns, Bob Bicknell also let go

Saints assistant coaches Kodi Burns, Bob Bicknell also let go after Pete Carmichael dismissed

More changes are coming for the New Orleans Saints after firing offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. The team announced that assistant coaches Kodi Burns and Bob Bicknell will not be returning for the 2024 season.

Dennis Allen commented on the staff changes in a statement from the team: “I would like to thank Pete, Bob and Kodi for their service to the New Orleans Saints and to this coaching staff. These types of decisions are never easy to come to, but are necessary as we move forward.”

Both hired in recent years after Allen took over as head coach, Burns coached wide receivers while Bicknell worked as a senior assistant on offense. The Saints had too many miscues with their receivers and struggled to pick up first downs or score points for long stretches this year, so change was necessary.

And more departures may be coming. Stay tuned for updates as the 2024 Saints coaching staff continues to take shape.

Florida makes new strength and conditioning hire official

After reports of Florida hiring a new strength and conditioning coach surfaced a week ago, the Gators made things official on Saturday.

Initial reports of Florida hiring New York Giants director of strength and performance [autotag]Craig Fitzgerald[/autotag] came in a week ago, but the Gators are just now making the move official.

“I’m extremely excited to join coach Napier and his staff, and to be part of Gator Nation,” Fitzgerald said in a press release from the UAA. “I look forward to being part of such a storied program and can’t wait to get to work.”

Napier praised Fitzgerald for his work over 25 years at the collegiate and professional levels. Fitzgerald has experience in the SEC and in the NFL, which should help prepare players for the next level.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig and his family — his wife, Mary, and sons, Mac, Joe and Luke, to Gainesville and to the UF community,” Napier said. “We’re very excited to add Coach Fitz to our team. He brings a significant level of experience in both college and the NFL. He will help each player on our team reach their potential. His reputation precedes itself and we are excited about the leadership he will bring and the impact he will have on our entire organization.”

Fitzgerald is leaving the New York Giants after four seasons for Florida. Before that, he was at Tennessee and with the Houston Texans. He also made stops at Harvard, Penn State and South Carolina when Steve Spurrier was the head coach.

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Chris Jones defends Chiefs’ coaching staff amid recent criticism

#Chiefs DL Chris Jones defended Kansas City’s coaching staff after the criticism the team faced after its Week 16 loss to the #Raiders.

The Kansas City Chiefs are seeking a solid bounce-back performance against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. The Christmas debacle at Arrowhead Stadium has forced the team to reevaluate their discipline regarding playmaking as they can’t afford any more mistakes heading into the postseason.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has heard all the commotion regarding criticism of the coaching staff lately. During his Wednesday press conference, he addressed his thoughts about wanting accountability among the players.

“I think we got to hold ourselves (accountable); the coaches can only do so much. The coaches can only call plays. We have to execute,” said Jones. “The coaches can only call plays right, and we gotta go out there and execute at a high ability as players, so I think more so taking accountability for yourself. Players have to hold each other accountable.”

The Chiefs have suffered through miscues throughout the season and notably had two turnovers in Monday’s loss to the Raiders. Players understand they will be under pressure to get a win in the regular season home finale.

Florida set to bring in new strength and conditioning coach from NFL

Billy Napier has landed on an assistant from the New York Giants to head the Gators’ strength and conditioning department next year.

Florida football is set to bring in New York Giants director of strength and performance [autotag]Craig Fitzgerald[/autotag] to replace Mark Hocke as the head of the team’s strength and conditioning program, according to Swamp247’s Jacob Rudner.

Head coach Billy Napier mentioned that he expected a change of leadership in that department on Wednesday, adding that Hocke would transition into a coaching role. Fitzgerald has over 25 years of coaching experience, working with elite college programs in the past — most notably with former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier at South Carolina from 2009-2011.

Fitzgerald recently coached in the SEC, spending two years at the University of Tennessee as the director of football sports performance. He’s also worked at Arizona State, Catholic, Harvard, Maryland and Penn State. Before UT, he was the head strength and conditioning coach of the Houston Texans.

Most players who come to the SEC are looking to get to the NFL, and having a strength and conditioning coach who’s already been through two stints in the pros is a valuable asset.

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Florida announces hiring of DL coach Gerald Chatman

After a few weeks of searching, the Florida Gators have landed on Tulane’s Gerald Chatman as the new defensive line coach

Former Tulane defensive line coach [autotag]Greg Chatman[/autotag] is headed to Gainesville to serve in the same role under Billy Napier and Austin Armstrong at the University of Florida.

Chatman led the Green Wave’s defensive line to an elite 2023 season. Tulane finished the year ranked eighth in the country in rush defense (93.5 yards per game), fourth in turnovers gained (25) and tied for 22nd in sacks (34).

“My family and I are excited to join the University of Florida,” Chatman said in a press release. “I look forward to relentlessly working with coach Napier, the staff, and players to uphold the standard of the historic Gators football program. I embrace the challenge.”

Florida’s front seven looked strong through the first five games of the 2023 campaign, but the wheels started to fall off as injuries mounted and the season continued.

That’s why Sean Spencer was fired and Chatman was hired. The Gators can’t afford another poor defensive year, and Chatman has done wonders recently with less talent.

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Florida parting ways with two key defensive coaches, per reports

The Florida Gators are parting ways with two defensive coaches after two losing seasons in Gainesville under Billy Napier.

The Florida Gators are saying goodbye to secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer. Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel reported the news first.

Although Florida lost defensive coordinator Patrick Toney last year, these are the first major changes made by the program since Billy Napier took over.

Raymond was viewed as a big hire when he joined Napier’s staff thanks to the steady stream of NFL defensive backs he coached while at LSU. He never found that success at Florida, though. The Gators finished the season with just three interceptions this year — Raymond coached both the cornerbacks and safeties.

Spencer saw plenty of success on the recruiting trail, but Florida’s pass rush never lived up to expectations under a former NFL defensive line coach. Coach Chaos, as Spencer is known, also held a co-defensive coordinator title.

Significant changes are expected this offseason at Florida. Consider this just the first step. Replacing Raymond and Spencer won’t be easy but it was deemed a necessary step by Napier for Florida to improve.

All eyes will be on the top-ranked players in Florida’s fourth-ranked recruiting class moving forward. Five-tar safety Xavier Filsaime and five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray are the two most important pieces affected by this news.

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