Chandler Whitmer enters his second season as an offensive quality control coach for the Chargers in 2022. He came to Los Angeles for his first NFL experience after coaching three seasons at the college level.
In his first year with the Bolts, Whitmer aided the offensive coaching staff in the group's weekly preparation plan and day-to-day operation, primarily contributing support to the quarterback room. His contributions helped quarterback Justin Herbert earn his first career Pro Bowl nod after setting the single-season franchise records in passing yards (5,014), passing touchdowns (38) and completions (443). The Chargers ranked first in the AFC in passing offense (282.4 net yards per game) in 2021, placing fourth in the NFL in total offense (390.2). The offensive unit's efficiency late in games was prominent, as the Bolts posted the second-most fourth-quarter points scored by any team in a single season in NFL history (181). The offensive unit single-season team records for first downs (401) and passing touchdowns (38) in 2021.
Herbert became the third-youngest player in NFL history to eclipse 5,000 passing yards in a single season, adding an additional 302 rushing yards – the most by any 5,000-yard passer in league annals. Herbert's 38 passing scores took his career total to 69, setting the record for most by a QB through their first two pro seasons. Along with eight scores on the ground, Herbert's 77 combined career rushing and passing touchdowns are the most total touchdowns by any player in NFL history through their first two seasons.
Prior to joining the Chargers, Whitmer served as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson University, aiding the offensive coaching staff and working with the quarterback and wide receiver groups. He worked closely with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the runner-up for the 2020 Heisman Trophy, as Clemson defeated No. 2 Notre Dame in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game and appeared in the College Football Playoff for the sixth-straight season.
Whitmer contributed to offensive coaching staff at Ohio State University one season earlier in a graduate assistant role. In his lone season with the Buckeyes (2019), first-year signal-caller Justin Fields led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular record, defeating eighth-ranked Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes' berth in the College Football Playoff was the program's first appearance in the CFP since the 2016 season. The Atlanta, Ga., native aided Ohio State's offensive coaching staff after serving one season as an offensive quality control coach at Yale University.
As a player, Whitmer logged 24 starts under center for the University of Connecticut from 2012-14, later earning a rookie minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles. He culminated his Huskies career ranked fourth in program history in career completions (403) and passing yards (5,082), while ranking sixth all-time in UConn annals with 25 passing scores. Whitmer started his collegiate career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, before transferring and playing the 2011 season at Butler (Kan.) Community College. In his lone season at Butler, Whitmer was named NJCAA All-America honorable mention after leading Butler to a top-five national ranking.
