"John Pagano was passed over for the job as Chargers defensive coordinator last spring in favor of one of his closest friends.

When that friend, Greg Manusky, took the fall for a disappointing defense on Thursday, Pagano was there to take his place, ecstatic to be given a chance he was frustrated at not getting last year yet wrought with sadness for getting it this way.

"First and foremost, it's an exciting day for me," Pagano said. "But it's a very sad and humbling day for me. (Manusky) is a dear friend of mine. I've got a brother in Baltimore, and my other brother, Greg, is right here. It's a bittersweet day for me. It's a (bad) part of this business.""