The Raiders look like they’ve locked in on Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And with their quarterback of the future all but penciled in, the focus now shifts to building a coaching staff that can help Mendoza hit the ground running in the pros.
One name generating buzz inside league circles? Chandler Whitmer - Indiana’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach - who has quietly built a résumé that’s turning heads in both college and NFL front offices. While Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has made it clear he's not leaving the college ranks, Whitmer may be the next man up to join Mendoza in Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, insider Hondo Carpenter dropped a nugget on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast that’s worth paying attention to: “There is a gentleman on the Indiana staff that I will be surprised if he does not end up on the Raiders’ staff somehow, in some capacity,” Carpenter said. “He’s the offensive coordinator at Indiana and the quarterbacks coach.
His name is Chandler Whitmer. Keep a close eye on this name.”
At just 34 years old, Whitmer brings a rare blend of youth and NFL experience - especially when it comes to working with quarterbacks. His coaching track record reads like a who’s who of recent signal-caller success stories. From college stars turned NFL starters to Pro Bowl production at the pro level, Whitmer’s fingerprints are all over some impressive quarterback development arcs.
Let’s start with his NFL stops. Whitmer spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers (2021-23) as an offensive quality control assistant, then moved on to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 as a pass game specialist. In both roles, he worked closely with quarterbacks - and the results speak for themselves.
In L.A., Whitmer was part of the staff that helped Justin Herbert explode onto the NFL scene. Herbert set the league on fire in his first three seasons, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to reach 14,000 passing yards and 100 total touchdowns.
He also became the only quarterback ever to open his career with three straight 4,000-yard seasons. In 2021, Herbert threw for over 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns - both single-season franchise records - and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
That same Chargers offense ranked top-three in passing yards per game in both 2021 and 2022, a testament to both Herbert’s talent and the coaching staff’s ability to maximize it.
Fast forward to 2024, and Whitmer was in Atlanta helping develop rookie Michael Penix Jr., who the Falcons took in the first round. Penix was thrust into the starting role late in the season with the Falcons in playoff contention, and Whitmer played a key role in getting him ready for the moment. Through 16 weeks, Atlanta had the sixth-ranked passing offense in the league - a strong showing for a team breaking in a young quarterback.
Before his time in the NFL, Whitmer cut his teeth at the college level with stints at Yale, Ohio State, and Clemson. At Ohio State in 2019, he worked with Justin Fields during a College Football Playoff run that saw the Buckeyes go 12-0 in the regular season and win the Big Ten title.
The following year at Clemson, he was part of the staff that helped Trevor Lawrence lead the Tigers to another CFP appearance and an ACC Championship win over Notre Dame. Lawrence finished second in the Heisman voting that season.
Whitmer’s rapid rise through the coaching ranks isn’t just about the names on his résumé - it’s about the results. Whether it’s helping a college star make the leap to the NFL or getting a young pro ready for a playoff push, he’s consistently been in the room with quarterbacks who go on to succeed.
For the Raiders, bringing in a coach like Whitmer to work alongside Mendoza makes a lot of sense. Mendoza is a high-upside talent, but like any rookie, he’ll need the right support system to thrive. Whitmer’s experience with both college and NFL quarterbacks - especially those transitioning between the two levels - could be exactly what Mendoza needs to make a smooth adjustment to the pro game.
Nothing is official yet, and the Raiders aren’t forcing any hires on their next head coach. But if you’re connecting the dots, Whitmer looks like a strong candidate to join the staff in Las Vegas. His track record with young quarterbacks, his NFL experience, and his connection to Mendoza through Indiana all point to a potential reunion in silver and black.
Keep an eye on this one. If the Raiders are serious about setting Mendoza up for success, Chandler Whitmer could be a key piece of that puzzle.