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Greg Roman A Finalist For Jets’ OC Job

By | at January 31, 2026 11:03 am

After parting with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday, the Jets plan to narrow their search for his replacement down to three finalists, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The list includes Greg Roman, who will have an in-person interview with the Jets early next week.

The 53-year-old Roman, one of five candidates to interview virtually with the Jets, is in the running alongside Frank Reich, Darrell Bevell, Ronald Curry and Lunda Wells. Given his vast experience as an offensive coordinator, it’s no surprise Roman is under serious consideration to replace Engstrand, who had never held the role until Glenn hired him last year.

Roman, a longtime Jim Harbaugh assistant, worked in the NFL as his O-coordinator in San Francisco from 2011-14 and rejoined him over the past two years with the Chargers. Between then, Roman served as a coordinator in Buffalo (2015 until an early season firing in 2016) and Baltimore (2019-22). Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert are among the quarterbacks who have performed well under Roman.

With Roman at the helm in Los Angeles this season, Herbert put together his second Pro Bowl campaign. However, after Herbert and the Chargers’ offense fared horribly in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round, Harbaugh replaced Roman with Mike McDaniel. 

Taylor is now a Jet, but as a soon-to-be free agent, his future is uncertain. While Justin Fields and Brady Cook are under contract for next season, it’s doubtful either will factor into the Jets’ Week 1 plans in 2026. Despite handing the mobile Fields a guaranteed $30MM on a two-year deal last offseason, expectations are the Jets will release him in the coming weeks. Head coach Aaron Glenn benched Fields for the rest of the year in mid-November.

With all three of their QBs posting lackluster results in 2025, the Jets easily had the worst passing offense in the NFL. That helped lead to 29th-place finishes in both scoring and total offense. The Jets ranked a much more respectable 10th in rushing, but their No. 1 back, Breece Hall, is due to become a free agent on the heels of his first 1,000-yard season. As a run-first coordinator, Roman may prefer to keep Hall.

Whether the Jets hire Roman or someone else, it’s imperative for Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to give their next coordinator more talent than Engstrand had at his disposal in 2025. Star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, tight end Mason Taylor, and the tackle tandem of Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are foundational pieces who are sure to return next season, but there’s plenty of room for improvement around them.

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Jets Complete Five OC Interviews

By | at January 28, 2026 7:41 pm

After moving on from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand yesterday, the Jets have officially kicked off their search in full force. The team announced that they’ve completed interviews with five candidates. Three names on the list are new: Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell, Bills QBs coach Ronald Curry, and recent Chargers OC Greg Roman. The two other names are Lunda Wells, whose interview we learned about this morning, and Frank Reich, who was previously mentioned as a potential option.

[RELATED: Jets, OC Tanner Engstrand Part Ways]

Bevell has spent the past four seasons as Miami’s QBs coach and passing game coordinator. He helped guide Tua Tagovailoa to a ninth-place finish in MVP voting during his first season at the helm, and he saw the former first-round pick later pace the NFL in passing yards (4,624 in 2023) and completion percentage (72.9 in 2024). Tagovailoa’s numbers took a notable step back in 2025, including a career-high 3.9 interception rate. While that performance may lead to some changes in Miami in 2026, it apparently didn’t do enough to ruin Bevell’s reputation.

Following a brief stop with the 49ers to begin his coaching career, Curry climbed the coaching ladder in New Orleans. As a receivers coach, he helped guide Michael Thomas to two of the most productive seasons of his career, and he led a QBs room in 2021 that relied on three different starters (Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, and Taysom Hill). He earned a promotion to passing game coordinator in 2022 and was responsible for passing attacks led by Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. He moved to the Bills ahead of Josh Allen‘s MVP season in 2024, and he got a career-high 69.3 completion percentage from the star QB in 2025.

Roman was recently fired by the Chargers following a three-point showing in the team’s Wild Card Round loss to the Patriots. Before that, the veteran coach had stints as offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Buffalo, and San Francisco. He also served as the associate head coach at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh. Considering the Jets’ uncertainty at quarterback, it’s worth noting that Roman has successfully worked alongside a wide range of QBs throughout his coaching career. While he recently had an experienced play-caller in Justin Herbert, he’s helped guide young QBs (like Lamar Jackson and Colin Kaepernick) and journeymen (like Tyrod Taylor).

Before the Jets and Engstrand parted ways, there were rumblings that Aaron Glenn was planning to strip the OC of his play-calling duties while seeking a replacement. Reich was the first coach connected to the gig, and the team was reportedly “progressing” in conversations with the former Colts and Panthers head coach. The 64-year-old remains the favorite for the role. Wells joined the fray this morning, with the Cowboys TEs coach garnering his third OC interview of this year’s cycle. One name that’s rejected the team’s overtures is Jon Gruden, who would have certainly fit Glenn’s desire to find a “head coach” for the unit.

Whoever ends up getting hired for the open OC job will have a tall task of turning around a Jets offense that finished bottom-four in yards and scoring this past season. The team’s QB approach remains uncertain following the failed Justin Fields experiment, and running back Breece Hall is set to hit free agency. Fortunately, the Jets do have some foundational pieces, including a solid offensive line, star wideout Garrett Wilson, and promising rookie TE Mason Taylor.

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2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at January 20, 2026 9:00 am

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 1-31-26 (6:00pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

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Chargers Fire OC Greg Roman

By | at January 13, 2026 10:59 pm

Greg Roman‘s second year with the Chargers has proven to be his last. The veteran offensive coordinator has been fired, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team has since confirmed the news.

This represents a split between Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh. The two worked together at Stanford (2009-10), with the 49ers (2011-14) and again during Harbaugh’s time with the Chargers. The 2026 season will represent Harbaugh’s first in the NFL without Roman as his offensive coordinator.

Los Angeles has reached the playoffs in each of the past two years. That illustrates the successful turnaround seen under Harbaugh and the team’s new front office. The performances seen on offense during the wild-card round has left plenty to be desired, however. Between last season’s loss to the Texans and the defeat against the Patriots from this weekend, Roman’s unit has managed just 15 total playoff points.

As Daniel Popper of The Athletic notes (subscription required), the “tenor” regarding Roman’s future changed in the wake of Sunday night’s game. Quarterback Justin Herbert continued to face consistent pressure due in large part to Los Angeles’ struggles up front. He took six sacks against the Patriots and several scrambles resulted in a team-leading 57 rushing yards. Offensive line coach Mike Devlin is also out, per the NFLN trio.

Left tackle Rashawn Slater was lost for the season to a torn patellar tendon suffered in August. That resulted in Joe Alt moving to the blindside, creating a setup which largely proved sufficient when he was available. Alt himself was limited to only six games in 2025 due to his own season-ending injury, however. The Bolts were unable to compensate for losing their top two linemen, and issues up front persisted through the team’s elimination.

Overall, the Chargers ranked 11th in scoring during Roman’s first year in charge and 20th in 2025. Improvements will be sought out by Harbaugh over the coming days. Los Angeles could be seen as one of the top openings around the league on the OC front given the presence of Herbert and a number of other core pieces on offense. It will be interesting to see who Harbaugh targets as he prepares for a rare stint without Roman serving as one of his top lieutenants.

Roman, 53, has been an NFL offensive coordinator for 12 years. In between his stints working with Jim Harbaugh, he led the Bills’ offense for two seasons and the Ravens’ for four. Roman won the Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2019, the season in which Lamar Jackson was the NFL’s unanimous MVP. Known for finding success with dual-threat quarterbacks, he could be sought out by teams seeking out an improved showing in the run game in particular.

The Lions and Buccaneers currently have an offensive coordinator vacancy. More are expected to open as the HC landscape takes shape over the coming days. In any case, the Chargers are now among the teams seeking out a new play-caller on offense as they look to take a step forward next year.

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RB Gus Edwards Addresses Chargers Deal

By | at April 8, 2024 4:09 pm

Gus Edwards was one of several running backs who found a new home early in free agency. The former Ravens producer inked a two-year, $6.5MM deal with the Chargers, giving him the chance to operate as his new team’s lead back.

That agreement also gave the former UDFA the opportunity to reunite with Greg Roman, who is in place as offensive coordinator on Jim Harbaugh‘s staff. Roman was the Ravens’ OC for much of Edwards’ career, during which time he played under Jim’s brother, John. That familiarity, to little surprise, played a role in his free agent decision.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Edwards said during his introductory press conference (video link). “The coaching staff they’ve been putting together is incredible. [I’m] real familiar with coach Roman and his game. And I just wanted to be part of it because I already know what his mindset is. And same with coach Harbaugh, I already know what his mindset is: being a physical team. And I just want to be a part of that.”

Edwards, 28, proved to be extremely consistent during his first four seasons on the field (from 2018-20, along with 2022, having missed the campaign in between due to a torn ACL). The Rutgers product averaged between 5.0 and 5.3 yards per carry in that span, but his efficiency dropped to 4.1 in 2023. In spite of that, Edwards totaled career highs in yards (810) and touchdowns (13) last season.

Coming off that production, he is now positioned to take over from the departed Austin Ekeler atop the Chargers’ RB depth chart. While additions in the backfield could still be made – the Bolts recently hosted J.K. Dobbins and the team will have the opportunity to select a rookie in the upcoming draft – Edwards will face notable expectations with his new team. Having a familiar face on the sideline will help his transition to Los Angeles as the Chargers aim to install a productive run game under Harbaugh.

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Assessing NFL’s OC Landscape

By | at February 15, 2024 8:28 pm

This offseason showed the turnover that can take place at the offensive coordinator position. As a result of several decisions in January and February, the NFL no longer has an OC who has been in his current role for more than two seasons. Various firings and defections now have the 2022 batch of hires stationed as the longest-tenured OCs.

One of the longest-tenured coordinators in NFL history, Pete Carmichael is no longer with the Saints. The team moved on after 15 seasons, a stay that featured part-time play-calling duties. The Browns canned their four-year non-play-calling OC, Alex Van Pelt, while three-year play-callers Arthur Smith and Shane Waldron are relocating this winter. Brian Callahan‘s five-year gig as the Bengals’ non-play-calling OC booked him a top job.

The recent lean toward offense-oriented HCs took a bit of a hit of a hit this offseason, with five of the eight jobs going to defense-oriented leaders. Callahan, Dave Canales and Jim Harbaugh were the only offense-geared candidates hired during this cycle. But half the NFL will go into this season with a new OC. Following the Seahawks’ decision to hire ex-Washington (and, briefly, Alabama) staffer Ryan Grubb, here is how the NFL’s OC landscape looks:

2022 OC hires

  • Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions*
  • Mike Kafka, New York Giants*
  • Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
  • Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
  • Adam Stenavich, Green Bay Packers
  • Press Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Although this sextet now comprises the senior wing of offensive coordinators, this still marks each’s first gig as an NFL OC. Three of the six received HC interest this offseason.

Johnson’s status back in Detroit has been one of the offseason’s top storylines and a development the Commanders have not taken especially well. The two-year Lions OC was viewed as the frontrunner for the Washington job for weeks this offseason, and when team brass did not receive word about Johnson’s intent to stay in Detroit (thus, waiting until at least 2025 to make his long-expected HC move) until a Commanders contingent was en route to Detroit for a second interview, a back-and-forth about what exactly broke down took place. Johnson should be expected to remain a high-end HC candidate next year, but Dan Campbell will still have his services for 2024.

Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ HC job, and the Giants then blocked him from meeting with the NFC West team about its OC position. Rumblings about Kafka and Brian Daboll no longer being on great terms surfaced this year, with the latter yanking away play-calling duties — given to Kafka ahead of the 2022 season — at points in 2023. Taylor may also be on the hot seat with his team. Doug Pederson gave Taylor the call sheet last season, and Trevor Lawrence did not make the leap many expected. After a collapse left the Jaguars out of the playoffs, the team had begun to look into its offensive situation.

2023 OC hires

  • Jim Bob Cooter, Indianapolis Colts
  • Nathaniel Hackett, New York Jets*
  • Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams
  • Joe Lombardi, Denver Broncos
  • Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens*
  • Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals*
  • Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
  • Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans*

Only nine of the 15 OCs hired in 2023 are still with their teams. One (Canales) moved up the ladder, while others were shown the door following that organization canning its head coach. The Eagles were the only team who hired an offensive coordinator last year to fire that staffer (Brian Johnson) after one season. Nick Sirianni fired both his coordinators following a wildly disappointing conclusion.

Hackett may also be drifting into deep water, given what transpired last year in New York. Rumblings of Robert Saleh — who is on the hottest seat among HCs — stripping some of his offensive play-caller’s responsibilities surfaced recently. This marks Hackett’s fourth chance to call plays in the NFL; the second-generation staffer did so for the Bills, Jaguars and Broncos prior to coming to New York. After the 2022 Broncos ranked last in scoring, the ’23 Jets ranked 31st in total offense. Hackett’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers has largely kept him in place, but 2024 may represent a last chance for the embattled coach.

Of this crop, Monken and Slowik were the only ones to receive HC interest. Neither emerged as a frontrunner for a position, though Slowik met with the Commanders twice. The Texans then gave their first-time play-caller a raise to stick around for C.J. Stroud‘s second season. Stroud’s remarkable progress figures to keep Slowik on the HC radar. Monken, who is in his third try as an NFL OC (after gigs in Tampa and Cleveland), just helped Lamar Jackson to his second MVP award. The former national championship-winning OC did not stick the landing — as Jackson struggled against the Chiefs — but he fared well on the whole last season.

Schottenheimer is on his fourth go-round as an OC, while Lombardi is on team No. 3. The latter’s job figures to be more secure, being tied to Sean Payton, compared to what is transpiring in Dallas. With the Cowboys having Mike McCarthy as the rare lame-duck HC, his coordinators probably should not get too comfortable.

2024 OC hires

  • Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills*
  • Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
  • Ken Dorsey, Cleveland Browns
  • Luke Getsy, Las Vegas Raiders*
  • Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks*
  • Nick Holz, Tennessee Titans
  • Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders*
  • Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints*
  • Brad Idzik, Carolina Panthers
  • Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles*
  • Dan Pitcher, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons*
  • Greg Roman, Los Angeles Chargers*
  • Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers*
  • Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots*
  • Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears*

The 49ers do not employ a traditional OC; 16 of the 31 teams that do recently made a change. Most of the teams to add OCs this year, however, did so without employing play-calling coaches. This naturally raises the stakes for this year’s batch of hires.

Retreads became rather popular. Dorsey, Getsy, Moore, Van Pelt and Waldron were all OCs elsewhere (Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle) last season. Smith will shift from calling the Falcons’ plays to running the show for the Steelers. Dorsey, Getsy and Van Pelt were fired; Moore and Waldron moved on after the Chargers and Seahawks respectively changed HCs. Moore and Smith will be calling plays for a third team; for Moore, this is three OC jobs in three years.

Coen, Kingsbury and Roman are back after a year away. Kingsbury became a popular name on the OC carousel, having coached Caleb Williams last season. This will be his second crack at an NFL play-calling gig, having been the Cardinals’ conductor throughout his HC tenure. This will be Coen’s first shot at calling plays in the pros; he was Sean McVay‘s non-play-calling assistant in 2022. Likely to become the Chargers’ play-caller, Roman will have a rare fourth chance to call plays in the NFL. He held that responsibility under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco; following Harbaugh’s explosive 2015 49ers split, Roman moved to Buffalo and Baltimore to work under non-offense-oriented leaders.

Grubb, Holz, Idzik, Pitcher and Robinson represent this year’s first-timer contingent. Grubb has, however, called plays at the college level. Robinson is the latest McVay staffer to move into a play-calling post; he was a Rams assistant for five years. A host of teams had Robinson on their OC radar, but Raheem Morris brought his former L.A. coworker to Atlanta. Pitcher appeared in a few searches as well, but the Bengals made the expected move — after extending him last year — to give him Callahan’s old job.

* = denotes play-calling coordinator

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2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 9, 2024 1:10 pm

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired
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Chargers Hire Greg Roman As OC

By | at February 6, 2024 7:10 pm

FEBRUARY 7: The Chargers have officially hired Roman, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The veteran coach is also expected to be named offensive coordinator. This will be Roman’s fourth crack as an NFL OC. He served in that capacity for the 49ers (under Jim Harbaugh) and Ravens (under John), along with the Bills.

FEBRUARY 5: Former NFL offensive coordinator Greg Roman is on the cusp of making a return to the NFL as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that he is expected to join the Chargers in a prominent capacity. Roman is not only going to be rejoining the NFL, he will also be joining the staff of a Harbaugh in the NFL for the third time in his career.

After spending the 2023 season away from the NFL following his resignation from Baltimore’s offensive coordinator position under John Harbaugh, Roman is primed to return to the league under John’s younger brother, Jim Harbaugh. Jim is fresh off a National Championship victory with the Michigan Wolverines and, after years of anticipation, has finally decided to make the leap back to coaching at the NFL level in Los Angeles. With his return, the younger Harbaugh has opted to bring back a trusty coworker with whom he is very familiar.

Roman first started in the NFL as an offensive line assistant for the Panthers in their inaugural season back in 1995. After a four-year stint with the Texans that saw him coaching both the tight end and quarterback positions, Roman had his first job with the Ravens as an offensive line assistant under Brian Billick. Following his first stint with the Ravens and a one-year detour as a high school offensive coordinator in New Jersey, Roman found his first job under a Harbaugh with Jim as associate head coach at Stanford.

When Harbaugh made his first move to the NFL to coach the 49ers, he brought Roman along as his offensive coordinator. After a rumored power struggle led to Harbaugh’s departure from San Francisco, Roman accepted the offensive coordinator job at Buffalo under Rex Ryan. After a two-year stint with the Bills, Roman found his way back to Baltimore to work for the elder Harbaugh brother as a senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach, exchanging the “senior offensive assistant” for “assistant head coach” in his job title in his second year with the team.

Roman would be promoted to offensive coordinator in Baltimore following the retirement of Marty Mornhinweg. In a full offseason with a second-year Lamar Jackson determined as the starter with Joe Flacco newly departed, Roman and Jackson would help deliver the franchise’s winningest season in its history, with Jackson winning his first MVP award. The next two seasons would see similar success from Jackson when he was healthy but a complete inability to mold Jackson’s offense to his backups in an effective manner.

Eventually, after a series of disappointing postseason exits, Roman and the Ravens would mutually part ways. Roman’s stretches as an offensive coordinator have revealed interesting patterns. He has routinely been paired with dual-threat quarterbacks like Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, and Tyrod Taylor. He tends to see less and less success the longer he stays in one place with lots of attention being called to his red-zone play-calling.

Roman’s pairing with an offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert is an interesting prospect. He may not have the same influence on quarterbacks as he’s had in previous years and may be asked to help boost a rushing attack that finished 25th in the league in yards last year. Regardless, Roman is a trusted companion for the new Chargers head coach, and his return to the NFL will be interesting to watch in Los Angeles.

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Chargers, Jim Harbaugh Meeting For Second Time; Parties Working Toward Agreement?

By | at January 23, 2024 11:42 am

Jim Harbaugh‘s second interview with the Chargers marks another important milestone in his presumed return to the NFL. The latest update on the situation points to an agreement potentially being on the horizon.

Harbaugh’s second interview is taking place today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes (video link). It was reported yesterday that the parties would meet for a second time, so it comes as little surprise that a follow-up has been worked out rather quickly.

Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo adds that Los Angeles has made an “extremely strong offer” to Harbaugh, whose value has spiked in the wake of an undefeated, championship-winning season at Michigan. He is still in the process of negotiating a new Wolverines extension, but interest involving the Chargers is not seen as a mere ploy to leverage a better incentive package, Garafolo explains.

Rather, talks between Los Angeles and Harbaugh have progressed to the point where coaching and front office staffs are being discussed. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Greg Roman could be a top candidate to take on offensive coordinator duties. A Harbaugh-led Chargers staff could also, to little surprise, include familiar faces at the other coordinator spots. Wilson names Michigan DC Jesse Minter and Harbaugh’s son Jay as options to lead L.A.’s defense and special teams, respectively.

Harbaugh has been connected to the Chargers early and often this year, and a report pointed to him being particularly interested in the Los Angeles gig. The team, in turn, is believed to be the favorite to land him in the event he does indeed return to an NFL sideline. Harbaugh has been at Michigan since his 49ers tenure came to an end in 2014. His four-year tenure in the Bay Area included a .695 winning percentage and a Super Bowl appearance, though, and his strong performances have continued with the Wolverines in recent years in particular.

Harbaugh also has a second interview scheduled with the Falcons, but the urgency which the Chargers appear to be showing could make that meeting a moot point. As Pelissero notes, Los Angeles has satisfied the Rooney Rule’s requirements of in-person interviews with at least two external minority candidates. As a result, an agreement with Harbaugh (or any other coach) could take place at any time.

The 60-year-old met with the Vikings and Broncos over the past two hiring cycles, keeping his name in the conversation for a jump from the college game back to the pros. Neither case saw that take place, but Harbaugh’s contract demands with Michigan and his decision to hire an agent have pointed to 2024 as being a strong possibility for his return date regarding an NFL gig.

Harbaugh finished his playing career with the Chargers, and a return to the franchise in a coaching capacity could give the team a high-profile Brandon Staley replacement. Los Angeles has not met for a second time with any other candidate, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team was expected to issue requests at some point this week. That has yet to take place, another sign that Harbaugh may soon be tapped as the Chargers’ next head coach.

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Bears Interview Greg Roman For OC Position

By | at January 16, 2024 10:05 am

The Bears’ search for an offensive coordinator has led to another interview. Chicago spoke with Greg Roman about the position on Monday, per Peter Schrager of NFL Network.

The Bears elected to retain head coach Matt Eberflus, but to little surprise OC Luke Getsy was dismissed at the end of the season. Improvement on the offensive side of the ball will be a clear priority for the team after it showed a significant defensive turnaround in the second half of the campaign. Chicago’s next offensive coordinator – the third in the past four seasons – will be tasked with either developing Justin Fields further or starting fresh with a new quarterback brought in to replace him. The latter route could very well include selecting Caleb Williams first overall after he declared for the draft yesterday.

Roman has experience as a play-caller at the NFL level, and in particular working with mobile quarterbacks. He has held OC positions with the 49ers, Bills and, most recently, Ravens. His Baltimore tenure included back-to-back seasons in 2019 and ’20 in which the team led the league in scoring. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson-led attack developed a strong reputation for its success on the ground, which falls in line with Roman’s track record. Offenses he has guided have never ranked worse than eighth in the NFL in yardage on the ground.

However, Roman-led units have not matched that success through the air. The Ravens’ 13th-place finish in passing yards in 2021 represents the most productive campaign in terms of passing yards he has overseen in his career. Much of Fields’ success to date has come on the ground, although he did see an uptick in many passing categories in 2023. If the Bears decide to keep the 2021 first-rounder in the fold, an OC with a stronger track record in the passing game would likely represent a more suitable choice. Chicago has yet to make a determination with respect to moving on from Fields (clearing the way for Williams to be drafted) or giving him at least one more season to establish himself as a franchise passer.

Roman, 51, joins Seahawks OC Shane Waldron, 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak, as well as Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen and Seahawks QBs coach Greg Olson in receiving interest for the Bears’ OC gig. After Roman’s four-year Ravens tenure ended last offseason, he took this past year off from coaching.

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