Chargers Choose Rams Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley For Head Coach Position

The Chargers won’t have to pay much to move their new coach to Los Angeles. He’s already there. The team announced Sunday night it has agreed to terms to make Brandon Staley, who just finished his first season as defensive coordinator of the Rams, the 17th head coach in franchise history. NFL Network was first to report the news. Staley first interviewed for the job Jan. 10, following the Rams’ wild-card victory over Seattle. He was scheduled for a second interview Sunday, the day after the Rams had their season end with a 32-18 divisional-round loss at Green Bay.
Staley, 38, will replace Anthony Lynn, who was fired Jan. 4 after four seasons, one playoff appearance and a 33-31 record. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve known Brandon for five minutes or five years, what quickly becomes apparent is the amount of energy and passion he approaches each and every moment with,” Chargers President of Football Operations John Spanos said in a statement.
“The consistency of that enthusiasm is unique and, most importantly, it drives his ability to connect with people. His coaching journey to this particular moment is inspiring; if not for the sheer perseverance and determination of it all, then certainly for the dramatic results it has produced for the teams and players he has coached. I know it’s cliché but I know Brandon quite literally cannot wait to get to work.” After dismissing Lynn, General Manager Tom Telesco said he would be patient making this hire, suggesting that he could wait until after the Super Bowl if necessary.
Under NFL guidelines, coaches cannot officially accept jobs with other teams until their previous season is concluded. “It’s not just that Brandon possesses a tremendous football mind that makes him the ideal head coach to lead our team forward,” said Telesco in the statement. “It’s that he excels in the ability to effectively tailor, apply and communicate his concepts to players. It’s clear that Brandon will not be out-worked, he’s the football equivalent of a gym rat, and that has earned him the universal respect of the players he has coached throughout his journey.”
Said Staley: “It’s hard to put into words just how excited I am for the opportunity to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach. While this is certainly a dream come true, it’s also a dream that’s just beginning.

There’s a reason this was probably the most sought-after job out there — from ownership, to the fans, to the city, to the men in that locker room — it’s the total package. I can’t thank the Spanos family and Tom Telesco enough for placing their faith in us, and by the time everyone is reading this quote in a press release, we’ll already be hard at work developing a program Chargers fans everywhere can be proud of.” The Chargers also interviewed offensive coordinators Brian Daboll (Buffalo Bills), Jason Garrett (New York Giants) and Joe Brady (Carolina) and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus (Indianapolis). Staley emerged quickly this season after joining the Rams a year ago in a move that was considered a bit of a surprise. He had spent the previous three seasons — two with Chicago and one with Denver — coaching outside linebackers. Before that, Staley worked for 11 years as a collegiate assistant. His stops included Northern Illinois, Division III St. Thomas, Hutchinson Community College, Tennessee, John Carroll and James Madison. He is a native of Perry, Ohio — about 35 miles east of Cleveland — who played quarterback at the University of Dayton. This season, he oversaw the NFL’s top-ranked defense, the Rams finishing No. 1 in points and yards allowed. They permitted only one opponent — the Bills and Daboll in Week 3 — to score more than 28 points in a game during the regular season. The Chargers struggled at times defensively in 2020. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has since departed to take the same job with Las Vegas. Linebackers coach Richard Smith and defensive backs coach Ron Milus will join Bradley with the Raiders.
jay.posner@sduniontribune.com; jeff.miller@latimes.com