The longest-tenured assistant on the Chargers’ coaching staff, John Pagano’s perseverance paid big dividends when Head Coach Norv Turner promoted him to defensive coordinator after the 2011 season.
Pagano worked his way up the ranks in San Diego, originally joining the team as a quality control coach in 2002. He spent the last four seasons as the team’s linebackers coach, helping to mold players like Shaun Phillips into stars. Since Pagano first started working with the team’s linebackers in 2005, a player from that group has led the team in tackles and sacks every season. In 2010, Pagano helped coach the Chargers a No. 1 overall ranking in total defense as the Bolts ranked second in the league in sacks and fourth in run defense.
Besides Phillips, Pagano also worked closely with Shawne Merriman, who led the NFL in sacks in 2006, was selected to play in three Pro Bowls and won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2005.
Pagano was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. An all-state linebacker at Fairview High School, he played at Mesa State from 1985-88, graduating with a degree in business marketing. Pagano’s older brother, Chuck, was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 after spending the previous four seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator.
Both John and Chuck played for their father, Sam, who spent 26 years as the head coach at Fairview High. Sam also coached internationally in Taiwan, Germany, France and Italy.
Pagano and his wife, Kimberly, have two sons, Jagger and Brody.
John Pagano’s Coaching Experience
1989 — Assistant Coach, Mesa State College
1990-91 — Graduate Assistant, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
1992-93 — Asst. Coach, Overland High School, Aurora, Colorado
1994 — Graduate Assistant, Louisiana Tech
1995 — Graduate Assistant, University of Mississippi
1996-97 — Defensive Assistant, New Orleans Saints
1998-01 — Defensive Assistant, Indianapolis Colts
2002-04 — Defensive Asst.-Quality Control, San Diego Chargers
2005-06 — Asst. Linebackers-Quality Control, San Diego Chargers
2007-08 — Outside Linebackers, San Diego Chargers
2008-11 — Linebackers, San Diego Chargers
2012 — Defensive Coordinator, San Diego Chargers
The longest-tenured assistant on the Chargers’ coaching staff, John Pagano’s perseverance paid big dividends when Head Coach Norv Turner promoted him to defensive coordinator after the 2011 season.
Pagano worked his way up the ranks in San Diego, originally joining the team as a quality control coach in 2002. He spent the last four seasons as the team’s linebackers coach, helping to mold players like Shaun Phillips into stars. Since Pagano first started working with the team’s linebackers in 2005, a player from that group has led the team in tackles and sacks every season. In 2010, Pagano helped coach the Chargers a No. 1 overall ranking in total defense as the Bolts ranked second in the league in sacks and fourth in run defense.
Besides Phillips, Pagano also worked closely with Shawne Merriman, who led the NFL in sacks in 2006, was selected to play in three Pro Bowls and won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2005.
Pagano was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. An all-state linebacker at Fairview High School, he played at Mesa State from 1985-88, graduating with a degree in business marketing. Pagano’s older brother, Chuck, was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 after spending the previous four seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator.
Both John and Chuck played for their father, Sam, who spent 26 years as the head coach at Fairview High. Sam also coached internationally in Taiwan, Germany, France and Italy.
Pagano and his wife, Kimberly, have two sons, Jagger and Brody.
John Pagano’s Coaching Experience
1989 — Assistant Coach, Mesa State College
1990-91 — Graduate Assistant, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
1992-93 — Asst. Coach, Overland High School, Aurora, Colorado
1994 — Graduate Assistant, Louisiana Tech
1995 — Graduate Assistant, University of Mississippi
1996-97 — Defensive Assistant, New Orleans Saints
1998-01 — Defensive Assistant, Indianapolis Colts
2002-04 — Defensive Asst.-Quality Control, San Diego Chargers
2005-06 — Asst. Linebackers-Quality Control, San Diego Chargers
2007-08 — Outside Linebackers, San Diego Chargers
2008-11 — Linebackers, San Diego Chargers
2012 — Defensive Coordinator, San Diego Chargers
