Two Head Coaching candidates are off the table for the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers have been busy this offseason, working to fill the vacancy created when they fired Mike McCoy at the end of the 2016 season. How busy have they been? Well, they’ve held 6 interviews in as many days, and had a seventh lined up.

So far the San Diego Chargers have had interviews with the following head coaching candidates:

• Mike Smith
• Sean McDermott
• Matt Patricia
• Dave Toub
• Anthony Lynn
• Teryl Austin

With the Miami Dolphins eliminated from the playoffs last week, that freed up Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph to interview with the Chargers today.

But that interview doesn’t look like it’s going to happen ...

Vance Joseph was supposed to conclude the first round of interviews, but he is now off the table, set to take over the Denver Broncos. So now that Joseph won’t be interviewed by the team, the first round of head coaching candidates is complete at six.

Since the Chargers were still in the process of interviewing their first round of candidates, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they haven’t announced a selection yet. Second interviews could be scheduled with candidates the Chargers liked, but they won’t include Matt Patricia or Dave Toub, they’re barred from further interviews or being hired because both their teams are still alive in the playoffs.

Another coach that won’t be coming in for a second interview will be Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott.

(That weeping you hear is coming from Garrett Sisti)

Oh, and in addition to McDermott being a shoe-in for the Buffalo job, reports are coming out that he wants to hire our old pal Mike McCoy to run the Bills offense.

So what all does this mean for the San Diego Chargers, aside from two of their candidates no longer being available? We can infer a few things based on what other teams are doing.

Matt Patricia interviewed with just two teams: the Rams and the Chargers. The Rams have scheduled a second interview with Washington Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay today. If McVay ends up taking the Rams job, that leaves the Chargers as Patricia’s only opportunity (should he want the job if the team offers it to him).

Dave Toub also interviewed with just two teams: the Broncos and the Chargers. The Broncos today are set to name Vance Joseph as their new head coach. Leaving Toub’s only opportunity with the Chargers.

If you had hoped the team would hire either Patricia or Toub, then things are looking up for you so far. If the Chargers go through the weekend without selecting a head coach or scheduling any second interviews, it could be a sign they are waiting for either Patricia or Toub to become available when their respective team is knocked out of the playoffs.