With Chargers Out Of Playoffs, Whisenhunt Expected To Make Decision Soon

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - For once, a loss gave the Detroit Lions reason to be excited. With the San Diego Chargers eliminated from the playoffs, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is eligible to be hired away.

Long considered the favorite to replace Jim Schwartz with the Detroit Lions, Whisenhunt is known for his work with quarterbacks, including Ben Roethlisberger with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kurt Warner with the Arizona Cardinals.

Most recently, Whisenhunt has worked with San Diego's Philip Rivers, who this year completed 69.5 percent of his passes (compared with 64.1 the previous year) and threw for 4,478 yards (versus 3,606 in 2012).

According to ESPN, Whisenhunt is expected to make his decision no later than Wednesday.

Just now @AdamSchefter said Whisenhunt likely to make decision in next 48 hours about jobs. #Lions. Said #Titans "shouldn't be discounted."
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) January 13, 2014

Let's see how week plays out but Tennessee's interest in Chargers OC Ken Whisenhunt should not be discounted. It's real and it's viable.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2014

The Tennessee Titans, for whose head coaching opening Whisenhunt is also a top candidate, went 7-9 in 2013, just like the Lions did. Detroit lost six of its last seven, while Tennessee followed a three-game losing skid by winning its final two games of the season.