Mike Macdonald received chargers for the HC position.

Mike MacDonald received chargers for the HC position.

The list of teams interested in Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is getting longer, and now the Chargers are among them. Los Angeles declared that it had interviewed the well-liked DC for the position of head coach.

Six of the eight teams that have had head coaching vacancies since the regular season concluded have either interviewed Macdonald or are scheduled to do so, as can be seen in our head coaching tracker.

The Raiders, who haven’t conducted any head coach interviews yet because they want to settle on their general manager position first, and the Patriots, who merely elevated Jerod Mayo to head coach after Bill Belichick left due to the succession clause in Mayo’s contract, are the only teams that haven’t shown interest in Macdonald.

The intrigue surrounding McDonald’s is easy enough to understand. For the last two seasons, the 36-year-old has been Baltimore’s DC, and the defense has prospered under his direction.

The team placed first in scoring defense in 2023 (third in 2022), first in takeaways in 2023 (10th in 2022), and first in defensive DVOA in 2023 (eighth in 2022). The team finished sixth in total defense in 2023 after placing 10th in that category in 2022. Despite lacking a top-edge rusher on the team, Baltimore led the league in sacks this season.

In McDonald’s system, inexperienced players like Arthur Maulet, Kyle Van Noy, and Jadeveon Clowney have revived their careers, while young players like Kyle Hamilton and Justin Madubuike have emerged as stars.

Furthermore, although Macdonald lacks the youthful offensive brilliance that teams have been drawn to in recent years, the success of DeMeco Ryans in Houston this season has demonstrated that a youthful, defensive-minded coach can be just as effective if they also possess strong leadership qualities.

Naturally, not all job openings are the same, and applicants with a lot of options, like Macdonald, might be reluctant to join a team like the Panthers because of ownership and quarterback concerns. However, because QB Justin Herbert is starting for the Chargers, many people believe that their opening is among the best.

Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of the University of Michigan right now, has reportedly told his associates that he may leave Ann Arbor for the Chargers. Harbaugh has long been linked to the Los Angeles position.

The fact that Macdonald would be the Chargers’ first head coach is one thing that is against his candidacy. The San Diego/Los Angeles team has hired three first-timers as head coaches, the last two of whom, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley, also had experience coaching defense.

It’s hardly shocking that owner Dean Spanos wanted to meet with Macdonald, but it would also not be shocking if Spanos chose a more offensive, seasoned candidate.

Remarkably, Los Angeles has also spoken with Todd Monken, the offensive coordinator for the Ravens, and has asked for a general manager interview with Joe Hortiz, the director of player personnel for Baltimore.