FIRED: Chargers Had Enough and Staley Is Out

Chargers fired Brandon Staley on Friday after a blowout loss to the Raiders

Another AFC West coach gets the axe

It took longer than some expected for the second coach in the division to be let go in 2023. Now, while the Chiefs press for a first-round bye and the Broncos push for a wild card spot, the rest of the division is squarely into the rebuilding phase.

The Los Angeles Chargers have made significant changes in their leadership by firing head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. The decision came after a disappointing 5-9 season and a particularly humiliating 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

In response to these changes, the team has appointed Giff Smith, the outside linebackers coach, as the interim head coach and JoJo Wooden, the director of player personnel, as the interim general manager. Staley's tenure with the Chargers lasted for 2½ seasons, during which the team had high expectations but struggled to meet them consistently. Under his leadership, the Chargers achieved a 24-24 record and secured one playoff berth in 2022, but their postseason journey ended with a dramatic 27-point blown lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The decision to part ways with Staley and Telesco was made by Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who expressed that Chargers fans deserved more from the team. Despite the challenges and the impact of these decisions on many people, Spanos believed that maintaining continuity was not an option due to the team's performance.

Staley was initially hired because of his success as the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 when the Rams had the NFL's top defense in points and yards allowed per game. However, he could not replicate that success with the Chargers, despite having star players on his roster.

The Chargers' struggles in the 2023 season, which saw them fall to a losing record, were particularly evident on the defensive side, where they ranked 29th in the league in yards allowed per game. Staley's role as the defensive play-caller came under scrutiny, especially after a Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers, during which the defense struggled, and Staley faced questions about whether he should relinquish his play-calling duties.

Additionally, the Chargers faced challenges when star quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a season-ending finger injury in Week 14. The team struggled without him, falling behind 42-0 in the first half in a game against the Raiders.

Staley's tenure with the Chargers began on a positive note, with nine wins in his first season in 2021 and a playoff appearance in 2022. However, the Chargers' playoff journey that year ended in disappointment, which led to changes in the coaching staff, including the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shane Day. Despite these changes, the team's performance did not improve.

The decision to make an in-season coaching change is relatively rare in the NFL, with the Chargers becoming the third team to do so in the 2023 season, following the Las Vegas Raiders and the Carolina Panthers.

Looking ahead, the Chargers will need to find a new head coach and general manager who can provide a fresh perspective and lead the team toward better results. The team has faced challenges in recent years, including a lack of playoff success and a need for significant improvements, and these changes are part of their efforts to move in a new direction and build a more competitive organization.

Now, the AFC West will have 50% new Head coaches in 2024.