Chargers hire Jets' director of player of personnel

The Chargers will turn to two longtime Ravens staffers to lead their next front office. New GM Joe Hortiz will hire a familiar name to be his top lieutenant alongside Jim Harbaugh.

Hortiz and Harbaugh are bringing Jets director of player personnel Chad Alexander to Los Angeles, SNY’s Connor Hughes tweets. While Alexander will make the trek from New York to Los Angeles, he and Hortiz worked together in Baltimore for nearly 20 years. The Bolts hired Hortiz as GM late last month.

Alexander joined ex-Ravens exec Joe Douglas with the Jets in 2019, when Douglas took over as GM. Prior to the New York trek, Alexander had ascended to the post of assistant director of pro personnel in Baltimore. Coming up from the scouting ranks, Alexander spent his final nine seasons with the Ravens holding that title. He collected two Super Bowl rings for his efforts, joining Hortiz as being with the club during its Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XLVII seasons.

The Jets have now lost Alexander and assistant GM Rex Hogan. They mutually parted ways with the latter last month. Hogan, who also held a Jets role under Mike Maccagnan, returned to the Jets as assistant GM once Douglas took over. Alexander and Hogan served as Douglas’ top two advisors, Brian Costello of the New York Post adds. As Douglas prepares for a make-or-break year in New York, he will need some new lieutenants.

Harbaugh’s fractured relationship with ex-49ers GM Trent Baalke played a central role in the former’s San Francisco tenure ending after four seasons. The 49ers had Baalke on staff before hiring Harbaugh. With the Chargers set to give the decorated (and highly paid) HC personnel control, they have long been expected to work with their new coach in assembling the front office. They will have two ex-John Harbaugh coworkers running point on that end.