The Chargers’ Brandon Staley era has come to an end.
Los Angeles cleaned house on Friday morning by removing Staley as head coach and Tom Telesco as general manager.
That wouldn’t have been surprising if it happened before Thursday night’s 63-21 loss to the Raiders, but it sure seemed like a foregone conclusion afterwards.
Staley seemed to know he was nearing the end a few weeks ago when he made quite a prescient comment about losing the locker room. Fortunately for the next regime, this is a team with a ton of talent on the roster and may not need too many tweaks to get back on track.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 15, 2023
So who will take over as head coach of the Chargers next?
Here are a few candidates who make sense.
Eric Bieniemy
The longtime Kansas City Chiefs offensive guru has been waiting for a shot at a head coaching gig and took over as Washington Commanders offensive coordinator this season in part to prove his teams could put up points without Patrick Mahomes.
Already he has a rebuilding Washington team as the 11th-best passing offense in the league. And that’s just with Sam Howell at quarterback. Imagine what he’d be able to get out of Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen.
Jim Harbaugh
The former Chargers quarterback would be a worth a phone call at the very least as the NCAA finishes up its investigation into a sign-stealing scandal at Michigan.
The Wolverines are just two wins away from a national title, so it seems unlikely Los Angeles would be able to pry him away before the college football playoffs, but the timeline for a new coach might not matter as much until the Chargers find their next general manager.
Harbaugh has won in the NFL before and he’s found that success in California.
Brian Schottenheimer
The Dallas Cowboys rank fourth overall in offense with 381.5 yards per game, second in passing with 262.8 yards per game and first in scoring with 32.4 points per game.
It only makes sense an offense like the Chargers would want to see if Dallas’ first-year OC could to with Justin Herbert what he’s done with Dak Prescott & Co.
Lincoln Riley
Would Lincoln Riley leave USC to join the NFL now?
Not having to move cities might make the idea more attractive. So would the quality of NFL defensive players (and coordinators).
The Trojans’ disappointing season aside, Riley got plenty of out an elite quarterback in Caleb Williams. Those schemes might work just as well with Herbert and a group of speedy wideouts.
Ben Johnson
What Johnson has done with a Lions offense relying on a veteran Jared Goff is nothing short of astounding — even if the NFC North is as weak as it’s been in decades.
He’ll be a hot name on the coaching market this offseason whether the Chargers call him up or not. That’s what happens when you can make Detroit look like a legit Super Bowl contender.
Bill Belichick
Tom Brady left New England for a warmer climate to prove he could win a Super Bowl without the vaunted Patriot Way.
Could Bill Belichick go the same route?
It’s clear something has to change in New England, but there’s little indication Belichick is ready to stop coaching. The Chargers could make him GM and head coach, handing over the franchise to someone with a proven track record of developing (and rejuvenating) talent.
This wouldn’t be as Earth-shattering of a move as Brady to Tampa Bay (either time), but it would come close.
Kellen Moore
Ok, no, it doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Chargers to clean house only to appoint their offensive coordinator head coach. However, he should get a good audition over the remainder of the season — as long as he’s not the next one out the door.
Maybe Moore still has a shot.
