NEWSLETTER
After hiring Jim Harbaugh as their head coach, there is an obvious next step for the Los Angeles Chargers — hiring a general manager.
And while the Chicago Bears aren’t scheduled to see the Chargers again until 2027, there is reason for Bears fans to keep an eye on what is happening out in Hollywood. This piece in The Athletic lays out what’s next for the Chargers. And this section grabbed my attention (bold emphasis mine):
The next step: hiring a general manager. Some names to watch include New York Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz and Chicago Bears co-director of player personnel Jeff King.
BEARS-CHARGERS CONNECTION: Chicago Bears Co-Director of Player Personnel Jeff King Interviewed for Los Angeles Chargers General Manager Job
While the Bears continue to ride the train of continuity, the Chargers hire Harbaugh as their head coach and could soon snatch a key executive from Ryan Poles’ staff in Chicago. But it might not be who we previously thought would be the odds-on favorite to leave for a GM job elsewhere. Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham was one of the Chargers’ first interviews. And yet, he doesn’t show up as one of the most recent Chargers options. That was unexpected.
My read on this situation is that the Bears might get to keep Cunningham after all. That wouldn’t be a bad thing if Chicago kept one of Poles’ top lieutenants. With all the heavy lifting this front office has in front of it, an all-hands-on-deck approach is necessary.
But still … it would stink to lose King. And from someone who understands the perspective of a fan base that craves change but is watching other teams do what they wish their favorite teams would is a double-whammy of rostra. Losing a trusted front office member like King would act like salt in the wound at this point.
Jeff King is a fit for the Los Angeles Chargers
King interviewed with the Chargers last week. Here’s what we had to say about the meeting:
Long before he was working in NFL front offices, King was a tight end in the league from 2006-12. The Carolina Panthers drafted King in the fifth round (155th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. After five years with Carolina, King finished his career with two seasons in Arizona with the Cardinals. Before transitioning into front-office work, King closed the door on his playing career with 156 catches, 1,323 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns.
…
The Bears hired King as a scouting intern and has since climbed the ranks. King currently holds the title of Co-Director of Player Personnel (which he shares with Trey Koziol). Before that, King was a scouting intern (2015), pro scout (2016-19), Assistant Director of Pro Scouting (2019-21), and Director of Pro Scouting (2021-22). Working for both the Ryan Pace and Ryan Poles regimes suggests that King does good work. No wonder the Chargers are interested.
There is an assumption that Jim Harbaugh will get full command of football operations in Los Angeles. That might be the case. But still, there figures to be some sort of checks-and-balances system put into place. Hence, the Chargers still have a general manager search to go through. And, sure, a GM working with Harbaugh might not get full autonomy. However, the opportunity to work with a proven NFL head coach and build around Justin Herbert is undoubtedly alluring.
MORE: Did the Chicago Bears blow it by not interviewing Jim Harbaugh when they had a chance?
The fallout from the Harbaugh hire figures to be wide-ranging. And the Bears might end up getting caught in it.
