John

Pagano

It’s a homecoming for Pagano, who grew up in nearby Boulder. Pagano is filling the post left by Brandon Staley, who recently replaced Wade Phillips as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. The long-time assistant arrives in Denver following a two-year stint in Houston that ended with his firing earlier this month.

The former Chargers and Raiders DC has a chance to land on his feet after being let go by the Texans earlier this month. A younger brother of former Colts coach and current Bears DC Chuck Pagano, the 52-year-old interviewed for the vacancy left by Brandon Staley, who recently defected to Los Angeles, where he’ll serve as Sean McVay’s defensive coordinator. Pagano has worked in the NFL in some capacity since 1996.

Pagano was brought in after a failed season as the Raiders defensive coordinator in 2017. He served as a senior assistant in addition to his role as the outside linebackers coach in Houston. The younger brother of former head coach Chuck Pagano will have to catch on as a lower-level assistant to remain in the NFL after a string of uninspiring results under his watch.

The Bolts’ defensive overseer since 2012, Pagano’s two-year deal had expired. According to ESPN, former Chargers OC Ken Whisenhunt had wanted Pagano to join his staff in Tennessee. Pagano’s unit allowed the 11th fewest points in the NFL last season despite an ineffective secondary and wave of injuries up front.

A Chargers assistant since 2002, Pagano coordinated the defense from 2012-16. His 2016 unit was good, if not necessarily great. The secondary played well and Joey Bosa reinvigorated the front seven. At the very least, Pagano would be an upgrade on Joe Barry.

Pagano was up for the coordinator job in Washington, but the Redskins decided to stay in-house with Greg Manusky. The Raiders have to improve on defense to take the next step, and Pagano is almost certainly being brought in to help DC Ken Norton with that task. It also would not be surprising if this hire indicates something of a demotion for Norton.

The Chargers are promising sweeping staff changes under McCoy, and Pagano’s unit underachieved in 2015 despite several quality starters and lots of early draft picks invested. We’d be shocked if Pagano returned to San Diego.

He’s taking over for Ken Norton Jr., who was fired on Tuesday. It’s not a stretch to say the Raiders have been historically ineffective on defense this season, generating zero interceptions through 10 games while allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a 113.3 QB rating. They are tied for last in the league in sacks (14). Personnel is the main issue, but a fresh perspective on the scheme certainly couldn’t hurt at this point. Chuck’s brother, John was the Chargers’ defensive boss from 2012-16.

Pagano closed out 2017 as Oakland’s defensive coordinator after Ken Norton Jr was fired. He ran the Chargers’ defense from 2012-16 and brings a ton of experience in 3-4 schemes. Pagano is taking over the role Romeo Crennel held last year. He’ll focus on developing Houston’s outside linebackers.