Today news surfaced that the LA Chargers have let go of their longtime equipment manager Bob Wick. No details have yet emerged regarding the reasons.
Mr. Wick had served with the Chargers since 1979 when he began as a ball boy and equipment assistant during training camp. Bob was promoted to assistant equipment manager in 1983 and additionally served as the equipment liaison for both the Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls. Bob Wick was named the Equipment Manager for the Chargers in 2000 and has worked 3 pro bowls.
Bob made the move with the Chargers to LA this year, so his departure must be quite a surprise.
From all indications, it appears that Mr. Wick was well-liked and appreciated throughout the organization. As football analyst Paul Maland has compiled, there are many that do not approve of this sudden change.
Players like Eric Weddle shared their sentiment. @weddlesbeard your signature is one of his most proud memorabilia items. You're a great guy pic.twitter.com/KWkuaFZkKI
— Paul Maland (@PaulMalandNFL) August 25, 2017
A close friend who works for Chargers said Philip Rivers had "mad eyes" eating breakfast at facility and was completely red in the face.
— Paul Maland (@PaulMalandNFL) August 25, 2017
Right now we don’t know the reasoning behind this move, but it stands to reason that it’s not due to a lack of skill or work ethic. Bob Wick received the Whitey Zimmerman Memorial Award as NFL Equipment Manager of the Year in 2009.
The business-side of the NFL causes casualties of all kinds, and you can bet that the majority of those are folks that work behind the scenes to make everything run as smoothly as possible.
I wish the best for the Wick family through this trying period— hopefully, he won’t be away from the NFL for long.
-Goro “Only As Good As Your Tools” Saurus