Why the Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Chargers released a statement Friday about why they fired coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. But given the team’s performance on Thursday night, there’s no need for much explanation.
The Chargers lost 63-21 to the Las Vegas Raiders On “Thursday Night Football,” a national audience watched the culmination of a season full of mistakes, frustration and speculation about what ultimately unfolded on Friday.
Staley was expected to be sidelined, but the general manager’s firing seemed to underscore how disappointed owners are with a team that started the season with Super Bowl aspirations and ended as perhaps the NFL’s most disappointing team.
Thursday’s loss tied the most points the Chargers had ever given up and the most the Raiders had ever scored. Staley said afterward he was confident His players still believed in him, but that point seemed moot as the Chargers fell to 5-9 after the third-worst loss in franchise history.
The Chargers named outside linebackers coach Giff Smith as interim head coach and JoJo Wooden as interim general manager. Here you will find the most important questions and answers about what just happened and what comes next.
Why should Staley and Telesco be fired now?
The Chargers were embarrassed. Historically embarrassing. The Raiders, led by an interim coach in Antonio Pierce, had not scored a touchdown since Week 12 and were playing without an All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs and starting rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell scored one Franchise record 63 points about the Chargers on “Thursday Night Football.”
Before that loss, it seemed likely that Staley would reach the end of the season before being fired by owner Dean Spanos and president John Spanos, but the Chargers have lost five of their last six games and are coming off a 42-point loss to a team must have done this has already fired its own head coach.
While Staley was in the hot seat, Telesco’s job seemed more secure. What led to the decision to fire the managing director?
On paper, it seemed like the Chargers had one of the best rosters in the NFL. But the team was often let down by Staley’s defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league in each of his three seasons. Telesco secured top players like OLB Khalil Mack and cornerback JC Jacksonas well as other talented players Staley had previously coached, including defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph day And Morgan Fox. But it never materialized.
Ultimately, Telesco’s dismissal appears to be due to his body of work. He was general manager for 11 seasons, hired three head coaches and won two playoff victories. Telesco had a decade to make the Chargers a winner and failed. His time was simply up.
Who will take over in the meantime?
The Chargers named outside linebackers coach Giff Smith as interim head coach and JoJo Wooden as interim general manager.
Smith is in his second season as the Chargers’ outside linebackers coach and has been with the organization since 2016. He coached the defensive line until last season. He has no experience as a head coach.
He began his career in the NFL in 2010 as a defensive line coach at Buffalo Bills and had the same role with that Tennessee Titans for two seasons before joining the Chargers.
The Chargers’ decision to promote Smith is somewhat surprising, but the path from linebacker to interim coach has worked for other teams. And the Chargers don’t have to look far for proof: Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce was the team’s linebackers coach before being promoted. Pierce’s team handed the Chargers one of their most embarrassing losses in franchise history less than 24 hours ago.
Wooden joined the Chargers in 2013 as director of player personnel. Before joining the Chargers, he spent 16 seasons (1997-2012) in the Chargers’ personnel department New York Jets.
What is the pulse of the locker room and how does this move affect it?
Players’ frustration has reached its peak. Run back Austin Ekelerwho usually holds court with reporters after games and even smiled and laughed after Sunday’s loss to the Denver BroncosHe told reporters he would not speak again after Thursday’s game. Finally Ekeler did and said, “I have nothing for you. We got our asses kicked. … Plain and simple. This is my answer to all your questions.”
Linebackers Eric Kendricks, who also normally talks, also declined. Mack and security Derwin James Jr. Both expressed their frustration while speaking to reporters. Mack called it one of the most embarrassing losses of his career.
If nothing else, this loss will give the head coach a new voice. Someone new could give this team the spark to build on for the future.
What does this mean for the quarterback? Justin Herbert?
Herbert will now enter his fifth season with his third coach. He signed a five-year contract extension worth $262.5 million during the offseason, but had no division or playoff success to show for it. In the meantime, his draftmates Joe Burrow And Jalen hurts have already played in Super Bowls.
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Pat McAfee ponders whether Bill Belichick could fit with Chargers
The team at “The Pat McAfee Show” discusses a possible combination with Bill Belichick and the Chargers.
Who are the potential candidates for the position in the long term?
Detroit Lions OK Ben Johnson: Consider the Chargers’ Week 10 loss to the Lions as an example of Johnson, whose offense ran for 177 yards in the first half and finished the game with 533 yards and five touchdowns. With an offense that has been unable to run the ball under Staley, no matter who the coordinator was, Johnson could add to the balance of this team.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh was 44-19 in three years as coach San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. He led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, but has been at the University of Michigan since 2015. Harbaugh would be one of the most sought-after coaches if he decided to flirt with an NFL job again.
New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick: Belichick told reporters that he was focused on Kansas City this week when asked about his job status, but if the Patriots and Belichick are indeed headed for a split, the Chargers make a lot of sense. The hurdle with this option could be how much influence Dean and John Spanos will give Belichick in constructing the roster.
Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett: He is currently an analyst for NBC Sports and interviewed for the Chargers job in 2021. Garrett won three NFC East titles in Dallas from 2010 to 2019. This hire would be a surprise, but Garrett would bring experience and some wins. Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was on Garrett’s staff for two seasons in Dallas. Garrett promoted Moore from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in 2019.
