4. Jesse Minter on the move?
Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter has already completed multiple head coaching interviews.
And Harbaugh said Thursday that Minter has requests from “all” nine teams with a current vacancy.
That means the Bolts could be searching for a new defensive coordinator, too, something Harbaugh and Hortiz have already thought through.
“Not so much a question of ‘if’, we’ve known that,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a question of ‘when.’
“The product that Jesse has established as the head coach of the defense, that’s so good that we know it’s a matter of when. We’ve been preparing for that,” Harbaugh added.
Hortiz said: “You’re prepared … you have a list of candidates ready if he does depart. We have a lot of great coaches on the staff, on the defensive staff that will be considered, too, if he does depart. We got great players here, on both sides of the ball. I have confidence in them that if Jesse does get an opportunity, which would be well deserved, we’ll be able to adjust.”
Harbaugh said the Chargers would take the same approach to a vacant defensive coordinator job as they currently are for the open offensive coordinator role.
“I think you’ve got to look at it internally and externally. I do. You’ve got to talk to people and I think that’s the best way to do it,” Hortiz said. “Whether you hire internally, externally that’s the final decision you make. But I think when you have an opportunity to speak to people outside of the building, one about their schemes, their philosophies, about their coaches, but then also they can give you some nuggets on their team because they’re taking a look at you.
“You can get some ideas on that. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to learn a lot about the candidates and learn a little about ourselves, too,” Hortiz added.
Harbaugh and Hortiz noted that they would be open to a change in scheme if Minter were to depart.
“The players we have on defense, I think they are scheme versatile. If you look at what we do on defense, we play multiple schemes already,” Hortiz said. “Guys fit in different ways depending on what grouping we have out there on the field. We just want the best candidate if we’re in that position.”
Of course, there’s always the chance Minter doesn’t get a head coaching job. Harbaugh and Hortiz lit up at that scenario.
“If it doesn’t work out for Jesse, we’ll be glad to have him back. I love Jesse and have known Jesse since he worked with us in Baltimore and obviously Coach brought him over from Michigan,” Hortiz said. “As Coach said, it’s a ‘when’ and not an ‘if.’ We’ll keep Jesse as long as he wants to be here. But I don’t know how long that’s going to be.”
Harbaugh added: “If there’s a way, we would love to find it.”
A final note on the coaching staff.
While Hortiz and Harbaugh said they don’t expect more staff changes at this time, the Chargers will be looking for new linebackers coach as NaVorro Bowman is stepping down to focus on his family. Bowman’s son is a highly-ranked high school basketball player.
“NaVorro Bowman has decided to step back from coaching,” Hortiz said. “For those of you who don’t know, his son is an elite hooper. He wants to be a dad and help guide him through the process of college and selecting a college.
“As a father, excited for Bo, as a general manager and teammate of Bo here, I’m disappointed,” Hortiz said. “I love him and he did a great job. I understand his thought process. We’ll miss him.”
