Chargers expand head coaching search

The Chargers’ HC candidate list has expanded to 15 names. This now includes former Stanford coach David Shaw, who interviewed for the position Thursday.

Although Shaw has not coached in the NFL since 2005 and did not coach during the 2023 season, he spent 12 years as the Cardinal’s head coach. The Pac-12 program dismissed the successful HC following the 2022 campaign, but Shaw has still been on NFL radars. He interviewed with the Broncos last year.

NFL teams must interview two external minority candidates to comply with the Rooney Rule, but the Chargers had already done so by meeting with Leslie Frazier, Raiders DC Patrick Graham and 49ers DC Steve Wilks. Rams DC Raheem Morris is set to interview with the Bolts on Friday, while Lions DC Aaron Glenn received an interview request as well. Shaw is the sixth Black candidate to either meet with the Bolts or receive a slip.

Shaw, 51, is a San Diego native who coached in the NFL — with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens — from 1997-2005. Shaw spent four seasons in Baltimore before becoming a Jim Harbaugh assistant at the University of San Diego and then Stanford. After Harbaugh left for the 49ers, Shaw took over in Palo Alto and went 96-54, coaching superstars Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey. Shaw’s pro-style offense has attracted interest in the past.

Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Chargers’ search looks as of Thursday afternoon:

• Bill Belichick, former head coach (Patriots): Rumored candidate
• Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/16
• Leslie Frazier, former defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/14
• Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/11
• Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15-16
• Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/20; mutual interest?
• Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/13
• Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/12
• Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To Interview 1/19
• Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/9
• Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): To interview 1/19
• David Shaw, former head coach (Stanford): Interviewed 1/18
• Giff Smith, interim head coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/9
• Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): To interview 1/18
• Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/13