Chargers Interview Dawn Aponte For GM Job

While teams generally look at rival front offices for their GM candidates, the Chargers are currently considering someone from the league office. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers interviewed NFL chief football administrative officer Dawn Aponte for their general manager job.

Of course, Aponte does have plenty of experience in team front offices. She had a long stint with the Jets organization to begin her executive career, working her way up to senior director of football administration. After a subsequent three-year stint in the league office, she became the Browns vice president of football administration in 2009.

Following two years in Cleveland, Aponte was named the Dolphins senior vice president of football operations in 2010. She spent seven years in Miami, eventually earning a promotion to executive vice president of football administration. She was hired into her current role with the NFL in 2017, making her the highest-ranking woman in NFL football operations.

While this is Aponte’s first known interview for a GM job, this isn’t the first time she’s been connected to this type of gig. Earlier this offseason, she was mentioned as a potential candidate for the Commanders job, and she was also connected to the Giants job in 2022.

With Aponte earning an interview, the Chargers have now interviewed nine candidates for the job previously held by Tom Telesco:

• Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed 1/11
• Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Interviewed 1/14
• Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interviewed 1/17
• Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Interviewed 1/16
• Joe Hortiz, director of player personnel (Ravens): Interviewed 1/13
• Jeff Ireland, assistant general manager (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
• Jeff King, co-director of player personnel (Bears): Interviewed 1/19
• JoJo Wooden, interim general manager (Chargers): Interviewed 1/11