Tag: John Pagano

Commanders’ Dan Quinn promised people wanted to come to Washington

Dan Quinn said people want to be in Washington. He’s right.

Dan Quinn wasn’t kidding.

With new coaching staff hires on Wednesday, it reveals Quinn wasn’t exaggerating when last week he promised, “There are people that really want to be here.”

Quinn said in his introductory press conference he learned a lot from his head coaching experience in Atlanta and that if he could get one more shot at an NFL head coach position, he would make the most of what he learned.

Consequently, in this last week, Quinn has retained Ryan Kerrigan, Tavita Pritchard, and Bobby Engram from the staff of the 2023 Commanders. Also added to Quinn’s staff in the last week have been Brian Johnson (offensive pass-game coordinator), Jason Simmons (defensive pass-game coordinator), Larry Izzo (special teams), Bobby Johnson (offensive line), John Pagano (senior defensive assistant), Ken Norton Jr., (linebackers), David Raih (tight ends), Sharrif Floyd (assistant defensive line), Tom Donatell (defensive backs), Darryl Tapp (defensive line), and Anthony Lynn (running backs/offensive run-game coordinator).

Lynn has head coaching experience (Chargers) as does Kliff Kingsbury (Cardinals). Lynn played for and coached under Mike Shanahan and, most recently, was on Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers staff.

Simmons, 47, played defensive back in the NFL for a decade and has coached DBs with the Packers, Panthers, and Raiders.

Donatell played defensive back at Iowa and has served on Pete Carroll’s staff with the Seahawks, worked with Norton for three seasons, and most recently served on Brandon Staley’s staff with the Chargers.

Johnson (Brian) most recently was the Eagles OC employing an innovative run-pass option offense led by Jalen Hurts. Previously, he worked on the Dan Mullen staff at Mississippi State (Dak Prescott) and then Florida (Kyle Trask).

Johnson (Bobby) had the misfortune of the Giants offensive line spending more time in rehab than on the field, thus giving up the most sacks in the NFL. But the previous season, the Giants made the playoffs and won a playoff road game, utilizing an effective running game with Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones.

Do you notice a trend? Both Johnsons have worked with systems utilizing a running quarterback. All three of the top quarterback draft prospects, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye, are dual-threat quarterbacks. Come to think of it, so is Sam Howell.

Add to that, Lynn comes from the 49ers rushing attack as the running backs coach. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Kingsbury will only be throwing the ball in 2024. He is surrounding himself with people who know how to creatively run the ball in their schemes.

This coaching staff is loaded with experience, knowledge and talent.

All of them will not be able to be powerful and the smartest man in the room. It will be up to them to lay aside their egos and accept their assigned roles on Quinn’s staff.

But compared to the Ron Rivera staff of the last four seasons, couldn’t Quinn’s team be a much better-coached team?

Isn’t it fun thinking about how much better this franchise is already trending upward?

Former Broncos assistant coach joins Commanders’ staff

John Pagano coached OLBs for the Broncos from 2020-2021. After Vic Fangio was fired, Pagano took a two-year break from coaching.

Another former Denver Broncos assistant coach has found a new NFL home.

John Pagano, 56, will join the Washington Commanders as a senior defensive assistant, KOA Radio’s Benjamin Allbright first reported on Monday.

Pagano spent the last two seasons away from football. Before that, he served as an outside linebackers coach with the Broncos from 2020-2021. Pagano did not return after Denver fired former head coach Vic Fangio in 2022.

The Commanders will be Pagano’s seventh NFL team. He was a senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach with the Houston Texans from 2018-2019 before joining the Broncos. He coached with the Oakland Raiders in 2017 and had a long stint with the San Diego Chargers (2002-2016) before that.

After coaching at five college programs, Pagano broke into the NFL with the New Orleans Saints (1996-1997) before later joining the Indianapolis Colts (1998-2001). Prior to taking a break from 2022-’23, Pagano coached for 32 years, beginning his career as an assistant at Mesa State in 1989.

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Commanders hire Ken Norton Jr. as linebacker coach

A three-time Super Bowl champion as a player, Norton has been an NFL defensive coordinator for seven seasons.

Dan Quinn has found his linebackers coach. Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Washington Commanders are hiring former Pro Bowl linebacker and veteran NFL assistant Ken Norton Jr. as their new linebackers coach.

Norton, 57, enjoyed a 13-year playing career that ended in 2000. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, where he played the remainder of his career.

Norton was a part of three Super Bowl champions, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, a one-time first-team All-Pro and a one-time second-team All-Pro selection. Norton played 191 games with 188 starts, finishing with 1,272 tackles.

Norton began his coaching career with the USC Trojans in 2004 as the linebackers coach and won a national championship.

Here’s a look at each stop of Norton’s coaching career:

  • USC Trojans (2004-08): Linebackers coach
  • USC Trojans (2009): Assistant head coach & linebackers coach
  • Seattle Seahawks (2010-14): Linebackers coach
  • Oakland Raiders (2015-17): Defensive coordinator
  • Seattle Seahawks (2018-21): Defensive coordinator
  • UCLA Bruins (2022-23): Linebackers coach

Norton, the son of former World Champion boxer Ken Norton, played collegiately at UCLA and, in addition to winning three Super Bowls as a player, won one as an assistant with the Seahawks.

Norton’s addition follows John Pagano’s hiring as a senior defensive assistant, giving new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. several experienced voices on defense.

The Commanders have yet to officially hire a defensive line coach and secondary coach.

Commanders hire veteran NFL assistant John Pagano as senior defensive assistant

The Commanders add a highly respected defensive assistant to Dan Quinn’s staff.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn continues to add to his coaching staff. On Monday evening, Brent Allbright of KOA 850 AM in Denver reported that veteran NFL assistant John Pagano was heading to Washington.

When someone asked Allbright what role Pagano would serve, he said “probably” senior defensive assistant.

Pagano, 56, is the brother of former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. He began his coaching career in college in 1989, with his first NFL opportunity coming in 1996.

Here is a look at Pagano’s list of coaching stops:

  • New Orleans Saints (1996-97): Defensive assistant
  • Indianapolis Colts (1998-01): Defensive assistant
  • San Diego Chargers (2002): Defensive assistant & defensive quality control coach
  • San Diego Chargers (2003): Assistant linebackers coach
  • San Diego Chargers (2004): Outside linebackers coach
  • San Diego Chargers (2005-11): Linebackers coach
  • San Diego Chargers (2012-16): Defensive coordinator
  • Oakland Raiders (2017-18): Assistant head coach & defensive coordinator
  • Houston Texans (2018-19): Senior defensive assistant & outside linebackers coach
  • Denver Broncos (2020-21): Outside linebackers coach

Pagano has a wealth of experience coaching multiple positions and as a two-time defensive coordinator. Per Allbright and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Pagano had multiple opportunities but chose Washington and Quinn.

Updated list of DC candidates the Eagles could target with Jonathan Gannon heading to Arizona

We’re looking at an updated list of coaching candidates that could replace Jonathan Gannon as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator

Nick Sirianni now officially has his own coaching tree after the Colts hired Shane Steichen and the Cardinals hired Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday.

Sirianni rightfully gets a lot of credit for the Eagles’ success.

Philadelphia’s second-year head coach has far exceeded expectations and proven that he was the perfect target for the role. However, it’s important to remember that Shane Steichen had a massive role in the offense.

Gannon had interviews with Denver, Houston, and Minnesota last offseason and with Philadelphia reaching the Super Bowl and having a top-five defense, it was only a matter of time before he accepted an offer.

Sirianni knew his assistants were wanted and he stated has a plan for their departures.

“Of course, I want to keep these guys, they’re great coordinators, but in the event that I lose them, I have an idea of what I want to do at both spots. The answer is sometimes, yes, it’s in the building, and sometimes it’s outside of the building. But I feel like we have a lot of good options, and I feel like we have a lot of good options in the building that we’d be excited about if that were to happen.”

With Gannon landing one of the coveted vacancies, here’s an updated list of eight potential targets that could lead the Eagles’ defense in 2023.

Ranking defensive coordinator candidates the Eagles could target if Jonathan Gannon departs

Nick Sirianni says he has a planned response and we’re ranking 10 DC candidates the Eagles could target if Jonathan Gannon lands an NFL head coaching job in 2023

Nick Sirianni is weeks away from officially having his own coaching tree and with the expectation that a team will likely hire Shane Steichen (OC) and Jonathan Gannon (DC), we’re taking an early look at potential replacements.

Sirianni rightfully gets a lot of credit for the Eagles’ success.

Philadelphia’s second-year head coach has far exceeded expectations and proven that he was the perfect target for the role. However, it’s important to remember that Shane Steichen has a massive role in the offense.

Gannon is set to be this year’s Nick Sirianni, as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator will once again be the hot name on the coaching circuit.

Gannon had interviews with Denver, Houston, and Minnesota last offseason and with Philadelphia 13-1 and having a top-five defense, he’ll likely land a job early on in the 2023 cycle.

Sirianni knows his assistants are wanted and he has a plan for their departures.

“Of course, I want to keep these guys, they’re great coordinators, but in the event that I lose them, I have an idea of what I want to do at both spots. The answer is sometimes, yes, it’s in the building, and sometimes it’s outside of the building. But I feel like we have a lot of good options, and I feel like we have a lot of good options in the building that we’d be excited about if that were to happen.”

If Gannon does land one of the coveted vacancies, we’re ranking 10 potential targets that could lead the Eagles’ defense in 2023.

10 early DC candidates the Eagles could target if Jonathan Gannon lands a head coaching job

We’re taking an early look at 10 defensive coordinator candidates the Philadelphia Eagles could target if Jonathan Gannon lands an NFL head coaching job in 2023

Nick Sirianni is weeks away from officially having his own coaching tree and with the expectation that teams will target Shane Steichen (OC) and Jonathan Gannon (DC), we’re taking an early look at potential replacements.

Gannon is set to be this year’s Nick Sirianni, as the Eagles defensive coordinator will once again be the hot name on the coaching circuit.

Gannon had interviews with Denver, Houston, and Minnesota last offseason and with Philadelphia 13-1 and having a top-five defense, he’ll likely land a job early on in the 2023 cycle.

If Gannon does land one of the coveted vacancies, we’ve ID’d 10 potential targets that could lead the Eagles’ defense in 2023.

10 DC candidates the Eagles could target if Jonathan Gannon lands a head coaching job

10 defensive coordinator candidates the #Eagles could target to replace Jonathan #Gannon if he lands a coaching job

Jonathan Gannon is set to be this year’s Nick Sirianni, as the Eagles defensive coordinator has become the hot name on the coaching circuit.

It was initially assumed that Gannon would get an interview and then return to the Eagles for more seasoning and experience, but he’s now interviewed for three vacancies – Denver, Houston, and Minnesota.

It seems that general managers for all three interviewing organizations believe Gannon’s struggles in Philadelphia were due to a lack of playmakers at key positions, and poor linebacker play.

If Gannon does land one of the coveted vacancies, we’ve ID’d 10 potential targets that could lead the Eagles defense in 2022.

Broncos add new member to defensive coaching staff

John Pagano has been named the Broncos’ new outside linebackers coach.

The Broncos have hired John Pagano as their new outside linebackers coach, Denver head coach Vic Fangio announced Thursday. Pagano coached under Fangio for three seasons as a defensive assistant with the Colts from 1999-2001 (Fangio was the Colts’ defensive coordinator at the time).

John is the younger brother of Chuck Pagano, who interviewed for the Broncos’ head coach position last year. Chuck now serves as the Bears’ defensive coordinator. The brothers grew up in Boulder, Colorado.

Pagano has 25 years of coaching experience in the NFL, including two stints as a defensive coordinator (Raiders, 2017 and Chargers, 2012-2016). He most recently served as the Texans’ senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach from 2018-2019.

Pagano will be responsible for coaching up Broncos superstar outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. When they were both healthy and played in all 16 games in 2018, Miller and Chubb combined to record 26.5 sacks and forced six fumbles.

Pagano is replacing former Broncos OLBs coach Brandon Staley, who left the team to become the Rams’ defensive coordinator earlier this year.

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Broncos interview John Pagano for open OLB coach position

The Broncos interviewed John Pagano for their outside linebackers coach position.

The Denver Broncos interviewed longtime NFL assistant coach John Pagano for their vacant outside linebackers coach position on Thursday, according to The Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran. John is the younger brother of Chuck Pagano, who interviewed for the Broncos’ head coach position last year.

Pagano, 52, coached under Denver coach Vic Fangio for three seasons as a defensive assistant with the Indianapolis Colts from 1999-2001 (Fangio was the Colts’ defensive coordinator at the time). Pagano is not the only candidate the Broncos have interviewed but he appears to be the favorite to get the job.

Pagano has been coaching in the NFL since 1996. He served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator with the Oakland Raiders in 2017 before joining the Houston Texans as their senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach, a position he held the last two seasons.

Denver was left with an opening out OLBs coach after Brandon Staley left the team to become the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator.

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