Early Chargers Candidates

Everybody from the listeners to the Mighty 1090 AM in San Diego to the venerable Mighty MJD on the AOL FanHouse have weighed in with their thoughts on who will be the next Chargers coach.

Let's make one thing perfectly clear; Jim Caldwell, Ron Rivera and Mike Singletary are all excellent candidates. But the Chargers are coming off a 14-2 season and need a veteran coach to take them to the Super Bowl. So don't look for a coach who is going to be learning on the job. So who are the top candidates?

Jimmy Johnson. He seems to be favorite of everybody, and he even has a history of being a consultant with the Spanos Goofs prior to Marty's hiring. Now, Johnson leaving his cush television gig is remote at best anyway. But anybody who watched Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs struggle should be wary of pulling a dude out of retirement. Even if Johnson wanted the gig (and he doesn't), this still doesn't seem like the best hire.

Pete Carroll. He's not leaving USC. Let's move on.

Norv Turner. A former Raiders coach is not going to run the Chargers. Why not put Art Shell in this chase then?

Jim Fassel. Led a team quarterbacked by Kerry Collins to the Super Bowl. He gives a great interview and would be willing to put the chips on the table. Intriguing.

Steve Mariucci. Can you really hold the Lions gig against him? Like, who would have been successful in that situation? Great offensive mind with a good record in San Francisco.

Jim Mora. Good young coach. And like Mooch, you don't want to hold the Mike Vick era against him.

So you have some good, quality candidates here that would be able to take the keys off the ring and take this team to the Super Bowl. But you know what, none of these guys will be hired. Nope, the next coach of the Chargers has already been decided and really, if you haven't thought of it yet, shame on you. The next coach of the San Diego Chargers will be...




(wait for it)



Mike Martz.

Mike (expletive) Martz. Is there any other way this whole thing could possibly end?