Damon Mitchell Fired as Chargers Head Trainer; Spent 24 Years with Organization

Coming off a season in which their roster was decimated by injuries, the Los Angeles Chargers will have a new athletic trainer in 2023.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chargers have parted ways with Damon Mitchell after he spent 24 seasons in the organization, including six as the head athletic trainer.

He was originally hired by the team as a season intern in 1999 before becoming a full-time employee in 2001.

Prior to being named head athletic trainer in 2017, Mitchell spent 16 seasons as an assistant athletic trainer.

Per the team's official website, Mitchell's duties as head athletic trainer included supervising "all aspects of the medical department, including the general healthcare of every athlete in the organization."

The Chargers were without 11 of their 22 regular starters on offense and defense for multiple games last season. Left tackle Rashawn Slater, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive end Joey Bosa all missed at least four games.

Head coach Brandon Staley has been overhauling his staff since the end of the season. Kellen Moore left the Dallas Cowboys after spending four seasons as their offensive coordinator to take the same job with the Chargers.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported this week that Derrick Ansley is being promoted by Staley from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator with Renaldo Hill leaving to join the Miami Dolphins.

Despite their injury issues last season, the Chargers made the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They lost 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Game after blowing a 27-point lead.