Indiana QB Coach Whitmer Joins Buccaneers

Chandler Whitmer, the quarterbacks coach for the Indiana Hoosiers, has left the program to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their new quarterbacks coach, according to reports from ESPN's Pete Thamel and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The move comes weeks after Indiana claimed its first national championship with a perfect 16-0 season, elevating Whitmer's profile following one year on head coach Curt Cignetti's staff.

Whitmer served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Indiana's title run, working closely with quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The junior standout earned the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, leading the nation's most efficient offense. Mendoza, who transferred from California ahead of the season, completed 72 percent of his passes and developed rapidly under Whitmer's guidance. Before the championship game, Whitmer praised Mendoza's dedication, saying, "His preparation is at a whole other level. He just loves football. It's one of the top things I look for when it comes to quarterbacks."

Mendoza has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and is projected as a top overall pick, leaving Indiana to...