Chargers land Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator

When Arizona fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt, people in San Diego started pushing for the Chargers to hire him. Well, they just got their wish ... only not exactly as they imagined.

Whisenhunt joins the team not as its head coach but as its team's offensive coordinator. That happened Thursday after CBSSports.com Jason LaCanfora reported he was on the verge of joining the Bolts.

Whisenhunt, who took the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl, inherits an offense led by Philip Rivers that includes tight end Antonio Gates, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and running back Ryan Mathews.

It's an offense that was supposed to be productive, but it short-circuited as an inadequate and injury-depleted offensive line failed to protect Rivers who, in turn, committed a rash of mistakes. But look at his play over the last four starts: He had eight touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Chargers were 3-1.

Whisenhunt had been a favorite for several coaching jobs, including Cleveland, and when he was passed over I know of at least one AFC North GM who exhaled.

"Bad for him," he said, "but good for us."

I couldn't agree more. Whisenhunt and Andy Reid were two of the most attractive coaching candidates out there, and to think that every job but Arizona is filled without Whisenhunt getting an offer is unimaginable.

Landing him is a coup for San Diego, but figure on Whisenhunt being a hot head-coaching candidate a year from now.