It appears the NFL’s attempts at poaching the collegiate coaching ranks are not yet complete.
According to the Los Angeles Times, and citing multiple people familiar with the situation, the San Diego Chargers have contacted representatives of UCLA head coach Jim Mora about their coaching vacancy. Mora, who just completed his first season with the Bruins, has previously been a head coach at the NFL level with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
In that first season, Mora led the Bruins to a 9-5 record and the program’s second consecutive Pac-12 South title. It was just the second time since 1998 (10 wins in 2005) that UCLA has won more than eight games in a season.
It doesn’t appear, though, that the Bruins have much to worry about in the way of losing Mora after just one season. The Times writes that, per individuals in the athletic department, “Mora is likely to remain in Westwood” as the university is in the process of tweaking the contracts of the head coach and his assistants as well as making improvements to the football program’s facilities.
Already this year, NFL teams have made runs at a handful of college coaches.
Most notably, the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles made strong runs at Chip Kelly, who, after reportedly being close to a deal with the latter, returned to Oregon. Bill O’Brien as well was pursued by those two organizations before returning to Penn State.
Alabama’s Nick Saban has also been the subject of speculation, although he’s stated on numerous occasions, most recently after the Tide’s second consecutive BCS title, that he will remain in Tuscaloosa.
The NFL’s lone successful pursuit involved Doug Marrone, who left Syracuse for the Buffalo Bills. The Chargers also had an interest in Marrone.
(Tip O’ the Cap: SBNation’s Scott Enyeart)
