The Los Angeles Chargers set a major piece of their puzzle in place with the hiring of Joe Horitz to be their new General Manager (GM). The tenth GM in franchise history, Horitz was chosen over the only other finalist for the job, Giants’ assistant GM Brandon Brown.

A staple of the Baltimore Ravens front office since 1998, Horitz's most recent position was director of player personnel, which he held since 2019. Horitz's career in the National Football League (NFL) began in scouting, where he served as an area scout for eight years. The Auburn graduate would slowly climb the ladder, getting promoted to national scout in 2006, before becoming director of college scouting in 2009. 

A well-respected figure across NFL front offices, Horitz's resume as a crucial asset of the Raven’s scouting department speaks for itself. Baltimore has been one of the best organizations when it comes to the NFL Draft, with recent picks including the likes of standout rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers, 2023 first-team All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, and the loaded 2018 class; which featured three Pro Bowlers in franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, tight end Mark Andrews, and tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Looking to further to the past, selections of hall of fame level talent such as Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata serve as just a few more examples of the success Horitz has helped the Raven’s have come draft night. 

Horitz has been a hot commodity in the NFL GM market for over the last few years, being named one of the top 25 candidates by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer just last year. One of the finalists in both the Giants’ and Steelers’ 2022 GM search, along with the Cardinals vacancy last year, it was seemingly only a matter of time before Horitz got his promotion.

This news comes less than a week after it was announced that Jim Harbaugh would be their next head coach, and is a move that marks a big step for the organization that is looking for a culture change following the departure of former GM Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley. 

Connected with the Harbaugh family for over a decade, Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh likely played a role in the hire, as the Super Bowl champion sang Horitz’ praises in recent years, particularly crediting him for orchestrating the acquisition of All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith last season. 

Stepping into a much larger role in Los Angeles, the early signs indicate that Horitz will work closely with Harbaugh, ceding him some administrative power when it comes to decisions over personnel and other areas. With decades of experience in one of the NFL’s premier front offices, all signs indicate this being a home run hire for the Chargers.