Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has added former NFL standout Kevin Ross as a secondary coach and Jeff Hurd as the team?s new strength and conditioning coach. Both have agreed to two-year contracts.
Ross, 45, most recently spent the 2003-05 seasons as an assistant secondary coach for the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2004-05 seasons in Minnesota, Ross worked under new Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.
May 2007 - Los Angeles Chargers Wiretap
L.T. 'Devastated' By Father's Death
LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL's MVP, is "devastated" by the death of his father, who was killed when a pickup truck flipped on a highway.
Oliver Tomlinson, 71, was killed Friday afternoon in the rollover, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The driver, Ronald McClain was taken by ambulance to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he died. The 48-year-old McClain was Tomlinson's brother-in-law, authorities said.
"My father and I had a great relationship, and I am devastated by his passing," LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers' running back, said Saturday. "I will miss him."
Tomlinson's Father Killed In Waco Auto Acident
The father of NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson was killed Friday when the pickup truck in which he was riding blew a tire and flipped on a highway.
Oliver Tomlinson was killed at about 1:30 p.m. in the one-vehicle rollover, said Charlie Morgan, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman. Tomlinson was 71.
Shaun Phillips Signs Big Extension
Linebacker Shaun Phillips was handed his opportunity last season and made the most of it. Phillips jumped into his first full-time starting role that now appears his for the long-term.
Today Phillips signed a new six-year contract with the Chargers that will keep him in San Diego through the 2012 season. The signing eliminates Phillips? opportunity of becoming a restricted free agent on March 2.
?Shaun is an integral part of our defense,? said General Manager A.J. Smith. ?He is a great pass rusher and last year he solidified his talents as an outstanding player against both the run and the pass. His play and his production speak for themselves. He made a lot of big plays for us last year that helped us win football games, and I?m excited to have the opportunity to watch him continue to do that over the years to come.?
Chargers Tap Rivera To Coach Linebackers
San Diego Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has tabbed former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to coach linebackers, the team announced today. Rivera, who was one of six candidates to interview for the Chargers? head coaching job, has agreed to a two-year contract.
?This is big,? said Turner. ?Ron?s qualifications speak for themselves. He has a wide range of experience with a variety of defenses as both a player and a coach. And he?s coming from a team fresh off a Super Bowl season and whose defense over the past two years has been as good as any in the league. He?ll bring an entirely new dimension to the defensive staff. Ron is an outstanding addition to our staff.?
For the last three years, Rivera has overseen one of the NFL?s top defenses. Chicago won back-to-back NFC North titles and earned a berth in Super Bowl XLI, thanks in large part to an attacking defense that led the NFL with 44 takeaways in 2006. The Bears finished fifth in the league in total defense and third in scoring defense last season. In 2005, Chicago ranked second in the NFL in total defense and finished sixth in takeaways.
Chargers Introduce Turner As Head Coach
The San Diego Chargers have selected offensive mastermind Norv Turner as the team?s new head coach. A veteran of 22 NFL seasons in the coaching ranks, Turner becomes the 14th head coach in team history.
A two-time Super Bowl Champion as an offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys, Turner?s most recent assignment was in San Francisco where he was credited with helping the development of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. Last season, Smith passed for 2,890 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 58 percent of his pass attempts. As a rookie in 2005 prior to Turner?s arrival, Smith passed for just 875 yards, throwing only one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions.
Turner also breathed life into the 49ers running game as second-year back Frank Gore had a breakout season in 2006. Gore was selected to play in the Pro Bowl after leading the NFC and ranking third in the NFL with 1,695 yards. He scored eight touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry, highest among the league?s top 20 rushers.
?It?s obvious to me that the expectations for this football team are very, very high. That?s obvious to everyone. The conversations I?ve had with the players that I had an opportunity to talk to today, I think they understand that this team has accomplished a lot. A lot of individuals have accomplished a lot. L.T. sets a touchdown record this year. Merriman continues to lead the league in sacks. Philip Rivers showed he?s going to be the quarterback everyone hoped he would or whatever, but everyone I talked to today had the central theme: we want to win a championship."
San Diego Names Cottrell Defensive Coordinator
The Chargers announced Monday that they?ve hired veteran NFL defensive strategist Ted Cottrell to be the team?s defensive coordinator.
?Ted is one of the NFL?s most respected defensive minds,? said Head Coach Norv Turner. ?And his experience and success with the 3-4 defense will help us maintain continuity on that side of the ball and grow and get better.?
A veteran of 22 seasons as an NFL coach, Cottrell is a proven teacher and leader of winning defenses. His background includes a strong foundation in the 3-4 attacking-style defense that helped the Chargers lead the NFL in sacks in 2006. Since becoming a coordinator in 1998, Cottrell has had seven players record seasons of at least 10 sacks.
?I?m looking forward to working with such a young and talented group of athletes,? said Cottrell. ?I enjoy coaching the 3-4, particularly if you have athletes like those here in San Diego. I look forward to helping these players be the best they can be.?
Report: Chargers To Hire Norv Turner
The San Diego Chargers have their new head coach and it's the man everyone thought was going to be head coach of Dallas.
FOXSports.com has learned that the Chargers have tabbed 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner as their new head coach. Turner went to San Diego late last night to work out a deal with the team.
General Manager A.J. Smith held talks with Turner late last night and ironed out a deal. This morning Turner informed his current boss Mike Nolan that he did in fact have the job and was moving on.
FOXSports.com first reported the Chargers direction at about midnight Sunday.
Chargers To Interview Gibbs
The San Diego Chargers have gone 5-for-5 in interviewing head coaching candidates who've won a Super Bowl ring as either a player or assistant coach.
The latest is a former Tuna helper, Mike Zimmer, who met with Chargers executives as they continued to search for a replacement for the fired Marty Schottenheimer.
Zimmer was hired recently as Atlanta's defensive coordinator after doing the same job for Bill Parcells in Dallas. With Parcells' status uncertain, Zimmer jumped to the Falcons on Jan. 9. Parcells, the Cowboys' coach for four season, retired two weeks later.
"When Bill came in, he helped me a lot in wanting to be a head coach," Zimmer said. "Some people, that's all they dream about. All I dream about is being the best I can be and getting the players to play as best as they can and hopefully win a lot of championships."
Chargers To Interview Zimmer On Saturday
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will be the fifth candidate to interview for the Chargers head coaching position when he meets with team officials Saturday.
?We?ve met with four great football minds in the last three days, and Mike is another guy who has had a lot of success,? GM A.J. Smith said. ?Like our previous interviews, I?m just looking forward to talking a lot of football with him and learning more about his ideas.?
Carroll Not In San Diego's Plans
Pete Carroll is on San Diego's radar but not in its plans, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.
Chargers Receive Permission To Interview Four Candidates
The Chargers have received permission to interview four cadidates, including Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
Official: Marty Out In San Diego
Marty Schottenheimer has been fired as head coach of the Chargers.
Palmer MVP Of AFC's 31-28 Pro Bowl Victory
Thanks to Carson Palmer and a costly NFC penalty, the AFC won the 57th edition of the NFL's all-star game.
Merriman Meets With Goodell And Upshaw
?He's a very straight-up guy,? Roger Goodell said. ?I think he recognizes the issue and he's supportive of what we're going to do.
L.T., Belichick In Perfect Harmony In Hawaii
LaDainian Tomlinson now thinks Bill Belichick has nothing but class, and Belichick says the feeling is mutual.