Brandon Staley, HC, Los Angeles Chargers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Staley’s run as head coach of the Chargers has been a rocky one. The former Rams coordinator entered an enviable situation in his first run as a head coach. The top-end talent for the Chargers has been among the league’s best for years. Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and Keenan Allen are all among the best players at their position. Staley was brought in to juice up a defense which already included two star pass rushers (Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack) plus an All-Pro safety (Derwin James). Each of Staley’s first two seasons ended in heartbreak (Week 18 loss to Raiders in ’21 and Wild Card collapse to Jaguars in ’22). His decision making — mainly his fourth-down calls — have come into question a number of times. With a franchise QB in tow, the Chargers cannot afford to hold onto an ill-fitting coach through Herbert’s rookie contract. Staley is firmly on the hot seat.