The Los Angeles Chargers fired head coach Anthony Lynn after four seasons Monday.
The Chargers (7-9) went 4-0 over the final month of the season but missed the playoffs for the second straight year, losing seven one-score games in 2020.
Lynn went 33-31 in L.A.
The Chargers started 3-9 this year, with their only wins coming against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15), and New York Jets (2-14). They won three straight games – all by three points – in Weeks 14-16 before beating Kansas City, 38-21, this past Sunday.
Still, that 4-0 run should probably be taken with a grain of salt.
“They weren’t playing for a playoff spot, there was less pressure, the Chiefs didn’t have Patrick Mahomes on Sunday – so that was kind of a pointless game,” Manzano said. “I think that 45-0 game against the Patriots, that’s where Dean Spanos probably told himself, ‘Okay, let’s take a closer look here at what’s going on, what’s wrong, because this is rock bottom.’ Maybe during that evaluation time he figured out that maybe Anthony Lynn is not the right guy for the job.”
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could emerge as a leading candidate to replace Lynn. Bieniemy has had great success with Patrick Mahomes and would seemingly be a great addition for quarterback Justin Herbert, who flashed as a rookie.
“I really think the Chargers are going to favor an offensive-minded head coach going into this search,” Manzano said.