While many NFL coaching staffs include former college assistants, few teams embrace this concept more than the Los Angeles Chargers. This approach is logical, given head coach Jim Harbaugh’s extensive collegiate experience, having spent 16 seasons at the college level and establishing numerous connections nationwide. After taking the Chargers’ job last offseason, Harbaugh brought several staffers from the Michigan Wolverines, where he had coached for the previous eight seasons. Notably, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who spent two seasons at Michigan, was among the first to follow Harbaugh.
On Wednesday, the Chargers once again turned to the college ranks. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that former Florida State Seminoles defensive coordinator Adam Fuller would join LA’s coaching staff as a safeties coach.
The Chargers are set to hire former Florida State DC Adam Fuller as the team’s new safeties coach. He’s a veteran college defensive coordinator with stops at FSU, Memphis and Marshall. He served as the head coach at Assumption College in 2008. pic.twitter.com/wNemXiv7Qi
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 5, 2025
Fuller replaces Chris O’Leary, who accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Western Michigan Broncos earlier this week. After concluding his playing career at Sacred Heart in 1997, Fuller began his coaching journey, spending a decade as a defensive position coach at various small schools on the East Coast. In 2008, he became the head coach at Assumption University for one year before serving four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Chattanooga Mocs. He subsequently joined Marshall’s staff as an associate head coach and linebackers coach, eventually being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018.
A brief stint as defensive coordinator with the Memphis Tigers preceded his move to Florida State, where he took over in 2020. Fuller’s tenure at Florida State was moderately successful, with several players drafted into the NFL and a defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2022. He played a crucial role in FSU’s strong season in 2023; however, the 2024 season proved disastrous, leading to his firing after the team began with a 1-9 record. Despite these setbacks, Fuller brings significant experience and adds another valuable voice to the coaching staff.
