Coaching Departures: Bowman, Chiefs, Jaguars
As the Chargers seek a new offensive coordinator (and likely a new defensive coordinator), they’ll also be on the lookout for a new linebackers coach. GM Joe Hortiz announced today that coach NaVorro Bowman is stepping away from the team to spend more time with his family.
Bowman was a standout linebacker throughout the 2010s, earning four first-team All-Pro nods during his stint with the 49ers. A former third-round pick out of Penn State, Bowman finished his career with 798 tackles, 14 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. His 527 solo tackles in San Francisco ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard.
Following a one-year stop on the Maryland staff, Bowman joined former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. During his time with the Chargers, Bowman oversaw the development of Daiyan Henley and Junior Colson, and he guided a LBs room that also featured veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye.
The Chargers have started interviewing internal candidates to replace offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was fired this week. The team will also be seeking a new defensive coordinator if Jesse Minter earns a head coaching job.
More coaching notes from around the NFL…
- Following news from earlier today that the Chiefs moved on from WR coach Connor Embree, Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported that RBs coach Todd Pinkston has also been fired. The 48-year-old spent the past three seasons in the role, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt generally leading the depth chart during his tenure. The Chiefs rushing attack consistently ranked in the bottom-half of the league thanks to the Patrick Mahomes-led offense, but the Chiefs also bottomed out in yards-per-attempt in 2024 and 2025.
- The Jaguars are moving on from secondary coach Ron Milus, according to Josina Anderson. The veteran coach has served as a DBs or secondary coach throughout his 25-year coaching career, with his longest stint coming with the Chargers between 2013 and 2020. Following a three-year stint with the Colts, Milus joined Liam Coen‘s new Jacksonville staff last offseason. Jaguars defensive backs accounted for 15 interceptions this past season, including five from safety Antonio Johnson. On the flip side, the defense ranked 21st in yards allowed, and the coach didn’t necessarily maximize Travis Hunter‘s defensive ability.
AFC West Coaching Updates: Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers
The Broncos announced several additions to their coaching staff today as they attempt to round out Sean Payton‘s first coaching staff in Denver. While we’ve already covered most of the offensive additions, the defensive announcements were new to report.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is adding some NFL and college experience to the staff. The team reportedly lured veteran NFL defensive coach Joe Vitt out of retirement to join the Broncos as a senior defensive assistant. On the other end of the spectrum, Denver hired veteran college assistant Jamar Cain as its new pass rush specialist. Cain spent last year as LSU’s defensive run game coordinator/defensive line coach.
Lastly on the defensive side, the Broncos hired Isaac Shewmaker and Addison Lynch as defensive quality control coaches. The only offensive announcement we had yet to cover was another new quality control coach, Favian Upshaw.
Here are some other coaching updates from around the AFC West, starting with the defending Super Bowl champions:
- The Chiefs‘ offensive staff lost some talent in the offseason after another extremely successful campaign, necessitating some updates to the coaching staff. Joe Bleymaier was promoted from wide receivers coach to the title of pass game coordinator. Replacing him at wide receivers coach will be former offensive quality control coach Connor Embree, a large step up. Todd Pinkston joins the team to coach running backs after formerly serving as the wide receivers coach at Austin Peay. Former offensive quality control coach Porter Ellett will join him as assistant running backs coach. Dan Williams, formerly an offensive assistant, has taken one of the offensive quality control positions along with the added title of assistant quarterbacks coach. Filling his old offensive assistant role will be Kevin Saxton, who formerly served as the co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Benedict College.
- The Chargers also went to the college ranks to make a coaching addition, according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports. Los Angeles hired former Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Will Harris to serve as assistant secondary coach in 2023. Before his time as a coordinator, Harris had coached a slew of talented future NFL players as the defensive backs coach at the University of Washington.