John Pagano found out his 15-year tenure with the Chargers ended last offseason on social media, when it was reported that new coach Anthony Lynn wanted to go a new direction for his defense.
The Oakland Raiders were the beneficiaries of Pagano's firing after five years as coordinator.
The Raiders added Pagano to their staff in the offseason as an assistant and he took over as the play-caller late last month after Ken Norton Jr. was fired as coordinator 10 games into the season.
The transformation on defense the past five weeks under Pagano's leadership in Oakland has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Raiders (6-9).