After announcing earlier in the day that they’ll retain head coach Mike McCoy for the 2016 season, the Chargers have begun making changes elsewhere on their coaching staff. According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link), offensive coordinator Frank Reich has been let go by the team.
It was just a year ago that Reich drew interest from multiple teams with head coaching openings, interviewing with the Bills and the Jets for their jobs before they went with Rex Ryan and Todd Bowles, respectively. However, the Chargers’ offense has seen its offensive efficiency slowly decline over the last three years.
In 2014, Reich’s first year as offensive coordinator, San Diego went from second in offensive DVOA to 11th. The team slipped to 15th this season, heading into its regular season finale. The Chargers also went from scoring nearly 25 points per game in 2013 to just 20 this season, despite the fact that Philip Rivers led the NFL in passing completions (437) and attempts (661).
Injuries have plagued the Chargers over the last couple years, and health problems on the offensive line likely contributed to the struggles of first-round running back Melvin Gordon, but Reich will take the fall for the regression, and he may not be the last Chargers assistant to go. A report earlier today suggested that defensive coordinator John Pagano‘s job isn’t safe either.
With Reich out of the picture in San Diego, it’s worth considering whether the man he replaced in 2014 – Ken Whisenhunt – would be a candidate to reclaim the Chargers’ OC job, now that he has been let go by the Titans.
The Bills should hire him as a QB coach, and keep him around in case Rex fails again next year. With his history with the Bills he would be a good head coach, keep the OC if he does a good job again, and hire a new DC.