John Pagano

John Pagano
Washington Commanders
Position:	Senior defensive assistant
Personal information
Born:	March 30, 1967 (age 56); Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Fairview (Boulder)
College:	Mesa State
Career history
As a coach:
	Mesa State (1989); Assistant coach; UNLV (1990–1991); Graduate assistant; Overland HS (CO) (1992–1993); Assistant coach; Louisiana Tech (1994); Graduate assistant; Ole Miss (1995); Graduate assistant; New Orleans Saints (1996–1997); Defensive assistant; Indianapolis Colts (1998–2001); Defensive assistant; San Diego Chargers (2002); Defensive assistant & defensive quality control coach; San Diego Chargers (2003); Assistant linebackers coach; San Diego Chargers (2004); Outside linebackers coach; San Diego Chargers (2005–2011); Linebackers coach; San Diego Chargers (2012–2016); Defensive coordinator; Oakland Raiders (2017); Assistant head coach & defense; Oakland Raiders (2017); Defensive coordinator; Houston Texans (2018–2019); Senior defensive assistant & outside linebackers coach; Denver Broncos (2020–2021); Outside linebackers coach; Washington Commanders (2024–present); Senior defensive assistant;
	Coaching stats at PFR

Last updated February 24, 2024

John Pagano (born March 30, 1967) is an American football coach who is a senior defensive assistant for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). A longtime assistant coach with the San Diego Chargers, Pagano also coached for the Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos. He is the younger brother of former coach Chuck Pagano.

Early life

Pagano was born on March 30, 1967, in Boulder, Colorado. An all-state linebacker at Fairview High School, he played at Colorado Mesa University from 1985 to 1988, earning a degree in business marketing.

Coaching career

San Diego Chargers

Pagano originally joined the Chargers in 2002 as the team's quality control coach for the defense and moved his way up the ranks, first as an assistant linebackers coach, then as the outside linebackers coach and linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator on January 5, 2012.^[1]

Since Pagano first started working with the team's linebackers in 2005, a player from that group led the team in tackles and sacks every season, including Shaun Phillips who paced the squad in 2012 with 9.5. 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.

In Pagano's first year as a coordinator, the Chargers scored a total of seven defensive touchdowns in 2012, second in the NFL to the Chicago Bears (12), and two shy of the team record set by the 1961 squad that returned nine interceptions for touchdowns. The 2012 Chargers returned five interceptions and two fumbles for scores. The Chargers also increased their sack total, going from 32 in 2011 to 38 in 2012, including a team-record-tying 11-sack performance in a Dec 23 win against the New York Jets.

Oakland Raiders

On January 23, 2017, Pagano agreed to become the assistant head coach/defense for the Oakland Raiders. On November 21, 2017, following the Raiders' Week 11 loss to the Patriots, and with the defense having failed to intercept a pass, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. was fired. Pagano then took over defensive coordinator duties.

Houston Texans

On January 26, 2018, Pagano was hired as a senior defensive assistant for the Houston Texans.^[2]

Denver Broncos

On January 30, 2020, Pagano was hired as an outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos.^[3]

Washington Commanders

On February 15, 2024, Pagano was hired by the Washington Commanders as a senior defensive assistant.^[4]

Personal life

Pagano and his wife Kimberly have two sons, Jagger and Brody.

His older brother, Chuck Pagano, is the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.^[5] The Pagano brothers both 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's nephew, Carlo Kemp, is an American football player for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League.^[6]

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References

↑ "Pagano named defensive coordinator". Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
↑ Wilson, Aaron (January 26, 2018). "Texans add John Pagano to defensive staff". chron.com. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
↑ O’Halloran, Ryan (January 30, 2020). "Broncos hire Boulder native John Pagano as outside linebackers coach". denverpost.com. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
↑ Washington Commanders Public Relations (February 15, 2024). "Washington Commanders announce coaching staff". Commanders.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
↑ Cindy Boren \x26 Matt Brooks (January 25, 2012). "Colts name Chuck Pagano, Ravens' defensive coordinator, head coach". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ Kornacki, Steve (October 3, 2019). "Kemp Learned Life's Lessons From His Accomplished Football Family". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 23, 2022.

External links

Washington Commanders bio

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[1] "Pagano named defensive coordinator". Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2012.

[2] Wilson, Aaron (January 26, 2018). "Texans add John Pagano to defensive staff". chron.com. Retrieved January 26, 2018.

[3] O’Halloran, Ryan (January 30, 2020). "Broncos hire Boulder native John Pagano as outside linebackers coach". denverpost.com. Retrieved January 30, 2020.

[4] Washington Commanders Public Relations (February 15, 2024). "Washington Commanders announce coaching staff". Commanders.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.

[5] Cindy Boren \x26 Matt Brooks (January 25, 2012). "Colts name Chuck Pagano, Ravens' defensive coordinator, head coach". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[6] Kornacki, Steve (October 3, 2019). "Kemp Learned Life's Lessons From His Accomplished Football Family". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 23, 2022.

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