Chargers Announce Coaching Promotions
The Chargers announced a number of staff promotions this week, including coordinator titles for three senior coaches.
Defensive line coach Mike Elston has added defensive run game coordinator to his title, and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has taken on defensive passing game coordinator responsibilities. Both have been with Jim Harbaugh for at least four years having held similar roles at Michigan before coming to Los Angeles in 2024.
Clinkscale interviewed for the Chargers’ defensive coordinator job this offseason but was passed over for Chris O’Leary. His new title bump is somewhat of a consolation prize that could help him get attention for other teams’ DC vacancies next year, should he have such ambitions. Elston certainly does not. He revealed this week that he turned down an interview to replace outgoing DC Jesse Minter and prefers to remain a defensive line coach for the foreseeable future.
The Chargers gave quarterbacks coach Shane Day an offensive passing game coordinator role. He was considered for a promotion to offensive coordinator in Los Angeles was well as the same job on John Harbaugh‘s inaugural staff in New York. Day was a senior offensive assistant in Houston during C.J. Stroud‘s 2023 breakout season and oversaw Justin Herbert‘s career-best efficiency in 2024. Last year, of course, was greatly impacted by the team’s offensive line injuries, which dragged down Herbert’s numbers significantly.
The Chargers also promoted Mike Hiestand from defensive assistant to defensive run game specialist. He will continue his work with the team’s front seven in that role. Additionally, offensive assistant Josh Hammond is now Los Angeles’ assistant wide receivers/assistant special teams coach.
Chargers DL Coach Mike Elston Turned Down DC Interview
The Chargers interviewed several internal candidates to replace former defensive coordinator (and now Ravens head coach) Jesse Minter, but defensive line coach Mike Elston‘s name was not on the list.
That was not for a lack of interest on the team’s part. Elston revealed this week (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) that head coach Jim Harbaugh approached him about a promotion to DC, but he declined to interview for the job.
Elston, 51, has been Harbaugh’s defensive line coach for the last four years. At Michigan, he coached future first-rounders Mazi Smith, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant. In Los Angeles, his line anchored the Chargers’ top-10 defense in each of the last two years despite the team’s relative lack of investment in the unit.
That success naturally piqued Harbaugh’s interest when searching for Minter’s replacement, but Elston no longer has “aspirations of running a defense” and remains committed to working with the Chargers’ defensive line.
An unambitious coach is an underrated advantage in the NFL. If Elston turned down an interview for the Chargers’ DC job, he is probably not interested in moving to another team. As long as he remains in Los Angeles, the Chargers should have a solid defensive line without worry of their veteran coach being poached by another club.
Chargers Hire Jesse Minter As DC
As expected, Jim Harbaugh has recruited his Michigan defensive coordinator to Los Angeles. The Chargers have finalized a deal with Jesse Minter that will make him the team’s new defensive coordinator, per Albert Breer of TheMMQB. Minter has acknowledged the move, posting a farewell message to Michigan players and fans.
[RELATED: Chargers To Hire Greg Roman As OC]
Throughout Harbaugh’s interview process, it was hinted that Minter could follow his boss to the NFL. Minter spent the past two seasons as Michigan’s defensive coordinator, and he also had a four-year stint on John Harbaugh‘s staff in Baltimore. Jim Harbaugh has targeted familiarity as he’s filled out his new Chargers staff, so it’s not a huge surprise that Minter will be joining the ranks.
The 40-year-old coach helped guide a stout defense to a national championship, and the school had CFP appearances in each of Minter’s two years at the helm. Michigan allowed the fewest points in the nation (13.1 ppg) over the past two seasons, and Minter was a 2022 finalist for the Broyles Award, given to college football’s top assistant coach.
In between his stint in Baltimore and his time at Michigan, Minter had a one-year stop as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator. He held that same role with Georgia State and Indiana State. He earned a DC interview with the Eagles last offseason.
Harbaugh is continuing to add to his defensive staff, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero passes along that the Chargers have hired Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston for the same position. Prior to his two years in Michigan, the veteran coach spent more than a decade on Notre Dame’s staff. The Chargers have also hired Ravens player evaluation and analytics manager Corey Krawiec for an unknown role, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.