Ted Cottrell
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Defensive Coordinator
23rd NFL Season, 2nd with Chargers
On the same day that the Chargers hired Norv Turner as the team’s new head coach, Turner hired his first assistant when he tabbed veteran NFL defensive coach Ted Cottrell to take over as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator.
Cottrell has logged 23 seasons in the NFL as a defensive coordinator, assistant head coach, linebackers coach and defensive line coach. He’s a proven teacher and leader of winning defenses whose background includes a strong foundation in the 3-4 attacking-style defense that allowed the Chargers to rank fifth the NFL in sacks in 2007. During his career as a defensive coordinator, eight players who have played under Cottrell have recorded seasons with 10-or-more sacks, including Shawne Merriman in 2007, and 13 different players have been selected to play in a total of 17 Pro Bowls, including Merriman, Jamal Williams and Antonio Cromartie in ’07.
Cottrell’s first season in San Diego was an overwhelming success. The Chargers led the NFL in turnover margin (+24) during the regular season, marking the first time since 1993 that they led the league in that category. The takeaway trend continued in the playoffs where the Chargers’ +4 turnover margin ranked second to the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.
During the regular season, the Bolts led the NFL in takeaways (48) and interceptions (30). It was the first time a Chargers team ever led the NFL in either category. The Bolts’ 30 picks were the team’s most since 1969. The Chargers scored 128 pts off turnovers in the regular season, second-most in the NFL. San Diego’s 48 takeaways in 2007 were the most in the NFL since Baltimore had 49 in 2000. The Bolts’ stellar defensive play carried on into the postseason where the Chargers again led the NFL in takeaways (eight) and interceptions (six).
Thanks in part to their prowess in forcing turnovers, San Diego’s defense led the NFL in opponent passer rating (70.0) during the regular season. It was the first time the Chargers ever led the NFL in that category. In the playoffs, the Chargers’ 76.7 opponent passer rating was fourth-best among the 12 playoff teams.
With Cottrell at the helm of the defense, the Chargers became only the second team in the league since 1982 (Tampa Bay, 2001) to hold its opponents scoreless at home in the first quarter. The Chargers outscored their opponents 81-0 in the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium, the largest scoring disparity in the first quarter at home in NFL history. It surpassed the previous mark of 79 points, which was set back in 1921 by the Buffalo All-Americans (83-6). Another mark the Chargers set at home was allowing only 10 total touchdowns (rushing and receiving) the entire season, tied with Pittsburgh for the fewest in the league.
Overall during the regular season, the Chargers allowed the NFL’s fourth-fewest points (tie) in the first quarter (47) and the third-fewest in the first half (131).
Demonstrating his ability to make key halftime adjustments, Cottrell’s defensive unit ended their opponents’ first drive of the third quarter with a punt or a turnover 12 times in 16 games, which tied with Miami for the second-highest total in the NFL. That trend continued in the playoffs with the Chargers recording two interceptions and a punt on their opponents opening drives of the third quarter.
Some of Cottrell’s most successful seasons came during his six-year run in Buffalo from 1995-00. The Bills posted a 55-41 record, won three AFC East titles and made four trips to the playoffs. In 1995, his first season in Buffalo, linebacker Bryce Paup led the league with 17.5 sacks and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
During Cottrell’s three seasons as defensive coordinator (1998-00), Buffalo finished no worse than sixth in the league in total defense. They ranked sixth in 1998 and third in 2000. In 1999, the Bills led the league in total defense, allowing just 252.8 yards per game.
In 2001, Cottrell left Western New York and headed east to join the New York Jets as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Although the Jets operated out of the "Tampa 2" 4-3 scheme favored by Head Coach Herman Edwards, New York finished Cottrell’s first season ranked second in the league with 39 takeaways and earned a Wild Card playoff berth. A year later in 2002, the Jets started the season 1-4, but their opportunistic defense sparked a turnaround that saw New York return to the playoffs.
In his last coaching stop before coming to San Diego, Cottrell spent two seasons (2004-05) as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. In ’05, the Vikings finished fifth in the NFL in takeaways and earned a postseason berth, defeating the Green Bay Packers in a Wild Card contest.
During a year away from coaching in 2006, Cottrell worked at the National Football League offices in New York.
Cottrell enjoyed a four-year professional playing career. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1969 and spent two seasons playing linebacker in Atlanta. He concluded his playing career with a two-year stint with the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
After his playing career ended, Cottrell spent eight years coaching at Rutgers University. In 1981, he landed his first NFL job when Marv Levy hired him to coach linebackers for the Kansas City Chiefs. Cottrell was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He starred at Delaware Valley College from 1965–68. Ted's son T.J. is a former tight end who went to training camp with the Chargers as a free agent in 2007.
