ESPN.com is reporting that the San Diego Chargers have fired Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, capping off a season that began promisingly with a 14-2 record, but ended in bitter defeat.
Not only did Schottenheimer worsen his playoff record to 5-13 with the 24-21 playoff loss at home to the New England Patriots, but his long-time contentious relationship with General Manager, A.J. Smith, was brought to the forefront as one by one Schottenheimer’s coordinators and assistants were hired by other organizations – the most recent being former Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, who was hired to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
With the NFL combine and NFL draft approaching rapidly, Las Vegas’ leading favorite to win the Super Bowl is light years behind the rest of the league. The coaching carousel had apparently stopped, but now it begins again with many quality candidates still available. Already, names are beginning to bubble up, including former Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells, former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher, and Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera.
