Fred Graves


Fred Graves is an American football coach who is currently employed by the Los Angeles Chargers as a senior offensive assistant. He was previously employed by the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills as well as several universities at the college level.

Playing career

Graves was a running back and wide receiver at The University of Utah from 1969-1971. As a senior, he led the team with 45 receptions.

Coaching career

Graves' coaching career began at Northeast Missouri State where he served as the wide receivers and tight ends coach from 1975-1976. He later moved on to Western Illinois University and New Mexico State University where he held the same position. In 1982, Graves returned to his alma mater, Utah, where for the next 18 years he served in a variety of positions including wide receivers coach, running backs coach, offensive coordinator, and assistant head coach. In 2001, Graves went to the NFL to be the wide receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills until 2003. Graves served as the wide receivers coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and the Detroit Lions in 2005 before joining Jeff Fisher with the Tennessee Titans in 2007 as their wide receivers coach, a position he held until 2010. In 2011, Graves became the wide receivers coach for the Carolina Panthers under new coach Ron Rivera.
In 2013, Graves became the wide receivers coach for the San Diego Chargers under new Head Coach Mike McCoy. Graves has been known to employ some unorthodox tactics as a coach; his receivers routinely catch bricks in order to improve their hands.

Personal life

Fred and his wife Michele have two children: a daughter Amber, and a son Marcus.