Chandler Whitmer Heads to NFL, Leaves Behind Championship Legacy at Indiana
BLOOMINGTON - Indiana’s quarterback whisperer is heading back to the NFL.
Chandler Whitmer, who played a pivotal role in Indiana’s historic national championship run, is set to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their quarterbacks coach. The move reunites him with Zac Robinson, Tampa Bay’s newly hired offensive coordinator, and marks a return to the league where Whitmer previously worked with both the Chargers and Falcons.
For Indiana, it’s a significant departure. Whitmer was more than just a position coach - he was a key architect behind one of the most remarkable seasons in program history. Under his guidance, quarterback Fernando Mendoza blossomed into a Heisman Trophy winner, and the Hoosiers captured a national title in Curt Cignetti’s first year at the helm.
“I don't think I can put it in words how much Coach Whitmer has meant to me,” Mendoza said late in the season. “Not only on the physical standpoint but also the mental standpoint in the game. He's been such a blessing and honestly one of the huge reasons that I've been having the season we've had so far.”
Whitmer’s coaching fingerprints were all over Mendoza’s development - from his poise in the pocket to his command of the offense. The connection between coach and quarterback was clear, and it helped elevate Indiana from a promising team to a championship-caliber one.
Whitmer’s NFL return doesn’t come out of nowhere. He previously worked under Robinson in Los Angeles as an offensive quality control coach and again in Atlanta as a pass game specialist. That familiarity likely made this move a natural fit, and it gives Whitmer a chance to apply his collegiate success back at the professional level.
For Cignetti, it’s now back to the drawing board - again. This is the second straight offseason he’ll be tasked with finding a new quarterbacks coach.
Last year, he brought in Whitmer to replace Tino Sunseri, who had followed Cignetti from James Madison before leaving for UCLA after the 2024 season. Sunseri, whose coaching future is now uncertain following changes on the Bruins' staff, had only a brief stay in Bloomington.
While Whitmer is the first on-field assistant to depart this offseason, Indiana has been aggressive in trying to maintain continuity. The Hoosiers already replaced director of athletic performance Derek Owings and have made it a priority to lock in their core staff.
After a 10-0 start to the season and a College Football Playoff title, the program moved quickly to reward assistants with new contracts. More extensions - and pay bumps - are expected in the coming weeks.
“We have to adapt to the market conditions as they change,” Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said last summer. “Resources aren't unlimited, but it’s up to us to work together from an administrative standpoint and put resources in the right places so we can retain a coach who is super important to our program.”
That strategy has already paid off in some key areas. Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines both received contract extensions, helping to preserve the leadership that helped deliver one of the most improbable title runs in recent memory.
"It's been a special ride," Cignetti said after the championship win. "And I think we had just the right staff, the right players, and everybody that was right for the job to make this thing happen. And it's just unbelievable to be a part of - and doing it at Indiana makes it 10 times more special."
Whitmer’s departure is a loss - no doubt about that. But it’s also a sign of Indiana’s rise.
When your assistants are getting NFL jobs, it usually means you’re doing something right. Now, Cignetti faces the challenge of finding the next coach who can keep the quarterback room humming - and keep the Hoosiers in the national spotlight.