John Pagano

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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. 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.