The Chargers fired their offensive coordinator on Monday night and, technically speaking, they do not have a new one just yet. They do, however, have a new play-caller: QB coach Shane Steichen will be at the wheel, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Chargers Fire OC Ken Whisenhunt]
Head coach Anthony Lynn, meanwhile, will be heavily involved. That only makes sense since offense is Lynn’s bread and butter – he was a running backs coach for the bulk of his NFL coaching career and served as the Bills’ OC in 2016. Towards the end of the year, he succeeded Rex Ryan as the interim head coach before moving on to the L.A. job.
Lynn traveled the NFL throughout his assistant coaching career, but Steichen has spent most of his sideline time with the Chargers, dating back to 2011. Since 2016, he’s managed Philip Rivers & his backups as the Bolts’ QB coach.
Steichen takes over for Ken Whisenhunt, who got the heave-ho on Monday night. The Chargers haven’t cracked 40 yards rushing in any of their last four games (despite having Melvin Gordon on the field) and they ranked just 23rd in points under Whisenhunt this year.
With a new de facto OC, the Chargers will look for their second straight win when they face the Packers in L.A. on Sunday.