Source: Associated Press
BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) – Norv Turner was not the choice to succeed Bill Parcells in Dallas. But it appears he is the choice to replace Marty Schottenheimer.
ESPN.com is reporting that the San Diego Chargers have reached an agreement in principle with Turner, who interviewed for their coaching job last week.
Since firing Schottenheimer last Monday, the Chargers interviewed six candidates – Turner, defensive coordinators Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, Gary Gibbs, Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach Mike Singletary.
Turner was the only one with offensive expertise and he would inherit a team that ranked first in the NFL in scoring with 492 points (30.8 per game). MVP LaDainian Tomlinson set a single-season record with 31 touchdowns and won the rushing title with 1,815 yards for San Diego, which finished 14-2 but lost in the divisional playoffs to New England.
Turner was the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator this past season and served as a tutor for quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft. He will likely do the same in San Diego with Philip Rivers, who was selected to the Pro Bowl this past season after passing for 3,388 yards and 22 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Turner was a finalist for the Cowboys’ job after Parcells retired, but owner Jerry Jones decided to hire former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Turner was the offensive coordinator under coach Jimmy Johnson when the Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992-93.
The departure of Phillips led to the firing of Schottenheimer, who wanted to hire his younger brother Kurt Schottenheimer to replace Phillips.
The Chargers had already lost offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to become coach of the Miami Dolphins in January.
Turner did not have much success in his last coaching job with an AFC West team, compiling a 9-23 record in two seasons with the Oakland Raiders before being fired in January 2006. Included in that record was a 1-11 mark against division opponents.
Turner previously coached the Washington Redskins from 1994-2000, taking the team to the playoffs in 1999. He compiled a record of 51-62-1 with Washington before getting fired.
ESPN.com is also reporting that the Chargers will meet with longtime defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell this week. He most recently worked as a coordinator with Minnesota in 2004 and 2005.
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WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks for the broken heart!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiring Turner doesn’t make a whole lot of sense since he hasn’t really shown to be a winner as a coach. Let’s just hope that AJ Smith knows something here that we don’t. So far, he has made the right moves and gambles in drafting and trading players. However, this worries me just like when they hired Marty a few years ago.
fucking sucks. they interviewed three great coaches, and they pulled up this stinker.
Unbelievable—a looser choice from a looser owner’s representative. Norv has never won on a consistant basis and if we are 10 & 6 next year it will be a great year…..
who they should really fire( AJ Smith )
Not to worrry, the Padres are still in tac! Hahaha!
What a looooooser!
lets hope turner can lead sd to the postseason. i think he can get the job done, lets give him a shot before we get too mad. i think with the coaches we have we can get to the sb.
I’m not going to lie I was REALLY worried about our coaching choices but in a matter of a day I am really excited. With them bringing in Ted Cotrell and now Ron Rivera as linbackers coach I think that we will definetly improve and get that superbowl win. AJ has basically done the samething with Turner as he did with Marty….when you have coordinators and a staff as good as this,all while maintaining the continuity on the team, there is no way Turner can mess it up. They’ll be better on both sides of the ball. I am waayy too excited for next season already. Now its time for the draft.
its funny almost every move AJ makes makes me scratch my head and gets me upset and then he always finds a way to make the move make sense. In AJ we trust
THE MOVE IS BEING LAID OUT, AND SOON YOU WILL BE WELCOMING THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS! GO LA!
I’ve been a sufferring Raiders fan for many years, but I must say I truly feel sorry for Chargers fans now. Although Schottenheimer has only been known to beat the Raiders, I felt next year would’ve been different. Next year he would’ve won it. Like Bill Cowher, it’s inevitable they just can’t keep getting so close without finally having their day. I believed that and he had the team to do it. Instead the Chargers are now going to the crapper by hiring Turner. There is no “maybe AJ knows something”. This was a truly bad move. Good for the other West Coast teams, bad for San Diego. I live in L.A. so I will welcome a new team. I think AJ is giving me a wish, L.A. Chargers!!! Sorry S.D., Tomlinson is a great guy and great player, but Norv should only be a coordinator.
Oh, I’m no longer a Raiders fan ever since they hired Norv Turner. Then to make things worse they got Art Shell back. I guess Art will be coaching the Chargers in 2008.
dont even go there what are you smokin buddy. turner has a good chance to get san diego to the super bowl.bringin up the poor raiders cmon dude. turner will do well and all these people will say oh man what a great coach. lets all give norv a chance then talk later.
I live in Philly,but I’ve followed the Chargers since the AFL.What a dumb move,they fired a coach who they say can’t win in the playoffs,for a dope that won’t even get them to the playoffs.Morons!!!
I have to agree that the Chargers are gearing up for a move to LA, and face it, this would be the best move for them to make, the Chargers are worthy of playing in a city that has International fame, whereas San Diego is only known in a small city outside of St. Nowhere.
anybody still around? I told you Turner stinks and although it’s only been 3 games, it’s been 3 horrible games. Team is in disarray, players yelling at each other, no offense, no defense, no discipline, no fight… way to go Norv. He inherited platinum and turned it into shit. I guess that’s the way all former Dallas coaches under Jimmy are, including Jimmy, they can’t win without Jerry Jones. Maybe things will change over the next few weeks, but I don’t see it. Funny thing is there were moments the Chargers looked really good, but then they followed up with disgraceful plays. That’s Turner Ball, one play you see hope and the next you are disgusted.