A quiet office at Memorial Stadium had barely settled when the first phone calls came in.
Indiana quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer is leaving the Indiana Hoosiers to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN insider Pete Thamel, weeks after Indiana won the national championship.
The move comes immediately after the most successful season in program history. Indiana captured the national title behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, whose production and efficiency turned the Hoosiers into college football’s most consistent offense. The championship elevated both the roster and the coaching staff into the national spotlight.
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Whitmer spent one season at Indiana and worked closely with Mendoza during his Heisman campaign. His departure creates an opening on Curt Cignetti’s staff just as the offseason ramps up and spring practice approaches. Indiana has not yet announced a replacement.
Chandler Whitmer: From championship season to NFL opportunity
Whitmer’s jump to Tampa Bay is a return to familiar territory. Before arriving in Bloomington, he spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and one season with the Atlanta Falcons. Earlier in his career, he held graduate assistant roles at Clemson and Ohio State. The Buccaneers hired him as part of their offensive staff, where he will work with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The timing is notable. Indiana is preparing for its first season as a defending national champion without the quarterbacks coach who helped guide the program’s breakout year. The staff turnover reflects a broader trend seen after title runs at programs such as Georgia and LSU, where assistants often move quickly to NFL roles or higher-profile college jobs.
Cignetti acknowledged earlier this offseason that sustained success would bring turnover. His staff has already drawn attention across the sport, and Whitmer’s exit marks the first confirmed move.
A different position for Indiana heading into spring
The situation is more complicated by the roster changes ahead. Fernando Mendoza is expected to enter the NFL Draft cycle as a projected top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving Indiana with a new starter under center. Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover is widely viewed as the leading candidate to take over the role.
Without Whitmer, Indiana will need to install a new voice in the quarterback room during a critical development window. Spring practice is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, narrowing the timeline for a seamless transition.
Indiana enters a new era with a target on its back
On the field, expectations have shifted dramatically. Indiana will no longer be treated as an underdog. The Hoosiers avoid Oregon, Illinois, and Penn State on next season’s schedule but still face Ohio State and Michigan. With the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff now in place, the standard has moved from surprise contender to consistent participant.
Cignetti’s success in the transfer portal has been a defining factor in Indiana’s rise, and that approach may again be central as the staff adjusts. Whether the program promotes internally or looks outside remains undecided.
For Whitmer, the move offers stability and continuity at the professional level. For Indiana, it marks the first real test of sustaining a championship culture once the confetti is gone.
This article is based on reporting from ESPN, including confirmation by Pete Thamel, and contextual NFL coverage from league-wide reporting outlets. Team schedules and playoff format details reflect publicly available NCAA and College Football Playoff information as of the current offseason.
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