Getty ImagesWhile it’s been widely reported that the Chargers will fire General Manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner after Sunday’s season finale, another change that hasn’t been reported before could result in a member of the Spanos family that owns the team taking more of a hands-on role in football operations.
Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that a looming change in the front office will result in owner Dean Spanos’s son, John Spanos, overseeing football operations. That will leave the new coach and G.M. to report to John Spanos.
For fans of the Chargers, that’s not necessarily good news. John Spanos has spent several years working in the team’s scouting department, but getting a scouting job handed to you because your dad owns the team isn’t quite as impressive a credential as working your way up through the scouting ranks.
But when you own the team, that’s your prerogative. For Dean Spanos, putting his son in charge of the team’s football operations is one of the privileges of owning the team.
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Black Monday for NFL coaches is 12-31-12…Firings are heating up now, looking forward to watch how many coaches get the ax!
It all depends on if the owners son knows how to hire a real GM than get out of the way. Allow GM to find coach draft ect. People cripeople got after John York for putting his son Jed in charge but he hired his GM and got out of the way. Things are working great for them. So it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
I wish my father owned a football team. just not the jets tho
Must be nice when your father owns an NFL team, since he seems as qualified as me to be GM. They’ll still stink next year.
At least it isn’t John Spano. NY Islanders fans know what I’m talking about…
So yeah…Spanos and Smith (if still there) will report to Big Red. That’s how the Teflon Walrus rolls. And I mean ROLLS.
Don’t feel bad, SD fans. We’ll be going through that someday as well.
- Dallas Cowboys fans
The Chargers New Era.
Good luck!
We’ll see which of these coaches remember the 5 D’s of dodgeball when the axes start flying.
The darkest era of Dolts football has officially begun.
As a charger fan, i dont really mind Spanos being promoted for a couple of reasons
1 – Having talked to him, hes really seems like a “football smart” guy and not one of these guys that just takes the job and is unprepared. Hes gone through the NFLs management programs and has worked his way up (not that he had any competition here in san diego). If you listen to him in interviews, you would see that he knows what hes talking about
2 – Hes replacing a guy that signed off on the drafting of ryan leaf, firing of marty after 14-2, hiring Norval, and even worse keeping norval after last year. He cant possibly do any worse. Atleast hes a football guy and not just a business man who owns a team.
My only question is, is he the one making the decision on who to hire at GM/HC? I really hope he is because the friendship being deano and andy reid really scares me and im praying that he isnt our next coach!
My dad totally failed me. He just sold stuff and didn’t own an nfl team, darnit.
Too bad, JJ is stuck with Garrett. Not that he had a clue or, Something.
UGH
There goes any shot of a top tier coach or GM taking this job.
Who wants to report to the owners idiot kid? A first time NFL coach that’s who
John Spanos, poster boy for the estate tax. Too bad there’s not a futues market for NFL teams or I’d be shorting Chargers and retiring early.
I just hope no other teams try to snatch John Spanos away from us. LOL
I really hate being a Chargers fan. I hate it so much.
Really, can John Spanos be any worse than Dean Spanos?
This may not be an upgrade but it can’t be much worse.
Perfect.
Rich people making bad decisions.
AJ didn’t draft Ryan Leaf
John has been heavily involved with college scouting for several years now, and was positioned to be the G.M. in 2014 anyway.
What does this mean for Jimmy Raye? Did he get jumped over by his coworker/son of the owner
POOR CHARGERS. : (.
At least the kid worked his way up…can’t fault the kid for his parents owning a team and him wanting to get involved…I wish him well ..hope he is another Jed York.
and the charger woes continue…
This should end well. He looks like a guy that football coaches would love answering to.
I always though it would be fun to own a NFL team.
Hopefully this transition will go as well as the Al Davis to Mark Davis transition. Old to new, but still the same ol (blank).
I could see Chargers going deep into the playoffs next year with new coaching staff and patched up O-line.
Might be an improvement.
It can’t get worse than AJ and Norv. Give him a chance
this Oregon coach might be good….
Chip Kelly. I like his Offense but I dont know if he can bring it to the NFL. EMERY might wanna take a look
Show me your lightening bolt!
These things always work out well…
All you poor people hating on the owner’s son, it ain’t his fault he’s the owner’s son……….Better than being a schlepp posting on football chat sights all day
The HC job does not sound like a god fit for Andy Reid. Y’all did hear that , right ?
“We think it’s a great idea for a father and son to run an NFL team. It has been very successful for us!” Sincerely, Jerry and Stephen Jones
Hey PFT, John has been working his way up for the past 10 years. Take it easy on the snide remarks. He discovered VJax and a few others so do a little research before you hit,”post”. You guys are bordering on National Enquirer crap the past couple of months.