The Chargers coaching staff continues to take shape as Jeff Davidson has been named the new offensive line coach. He spent the last five seasons at the same post with the Minnesota Vikings, and boasts 21 years of coaching experience including four as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers where he worked with Head Coach Mike McCoy.
In 2015, the Vikings won the NFC North with an 11-5 record as Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns to claim the NFL's rushing title. As a team, Minnesota rushed for 2,211 yards behind Davidson's offensive line to rank fourth in the NFL. During his five seasons with the Vikings, Minnesota cumulatively led the NFL in per-rush average (4.2), ranked second in yards (11,048) and third in rushing touchdowns (87).
Davidson's offensive line enjoyed its finest season in Minnesota in 2012, when Peterson was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. His o-line helped Peterson rush for a league-leading 2,097 yards, which is the second-highest single-season total in NFL history. Three times that season the Vikings' line earned the Madden Most Valuable Protector's award that was presented by the Hall of Fame coach to the top offensive line each week of the season. Center John Sullivan earned All-Pro honors, while Matt Kalil made the Pro Bowl and was selected as an all-rookie honoree after starting every game.
Davison played four seasons for the Denver Broncos (1990-92) and New Orleans Saints (1994) before his career was cut short due to injury. He joined the Saints as an offensive assistant in 1995 prior to joining the New England Patriots in 1997, where he split eight seasons as tight ends coach and offensive line coach. Davidson joined the Cleveland Browns as o-line coach in 2005, and was promoted to offensive coordinator six games into the 2006 campaign. The Carolina Panthers hired him as their offensive coordinator in 2007, where McCoy served as the team's quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator. Davidson's top year with the Panthers came in 2008 when they captured the NFC South title with a 12-4 mark. In 2009, the team featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Jonathan Stewart (1,133) and DeAngelo Williams (1,117).
