The Los Angeles Chargers fired Brandon Staley on Friday morning, and they are now in the market for a new head coach.
What direction will the Chargers go? They could pair an offensive-minded head coach with franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. After taking a chance on a young, inexperienced coach in Staley, the Chargers could prioritize previous experience to steady the organization. It has been a rather tumultuous past three years, after all, even though the Chargers finished with winning records in 2021 and 2022.
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Here are 13 candidates the Chargers could target as they commence their head-coaching search.
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Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
The Chargers got a firsthand look at Johnson’s offense in Week 10. The Lions poured 41 points on Staley’s defense in one of the most impressive offensive performances of the season league-wide. Johnson outcoached Staley by a wide margin in that game. Dean and John Spanos watched it all unfold at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers will have interest in Johnson for their head-coaching opening. He could end up topping their list of candidates. Pairing Johnson with Herbert would be tantalizing, especially considering what Johnson has done with Jared Goff over the past two seasons. Johnson was in the conversation for head coach openings last year, but he pulled his name out of consideration. The chance to coach Herbert should be a more appealing opportunity.
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Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator
Quinn went 43-42 in five-plus seasons as Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2015 to 2020. He went to the Super Bowl in 2016. Atlanta, of course, blew a 28-3 lead in that loss to the New England Patriots. Quinn is interesting for a few reasons. First, he has the type of experience that should be intriguing to the Chargers. Second, he has coordinated a Cowboys defense that ranks No. 1 in the league in EPA per play over the past three seasons, according to TruMedia. Third, he spent two seasons with current Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Dallas in 2021 and 2022. Herbert has already had three offensive coordinators in his four NFL seasons. If the Chargers want to maintain some continuity for their quarterback, they could hire Quinn and pair him with Moore, assuming Moore does not get a head-coaching opportunity elsewhere.
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots head coach
The chances of Belichick ending up in Los Angeles will likely come down to one main question: Can the Chargers afford him? A league source told The Athletic’s Chad Graff that “Belichick and (owner Robert) Kraft have not yet met to finalize Belichick’s future status, though that’s likely to come shortly after the season ends, and by then, it could feel like just a formality.” Will the Patriots try to trade Belichick, who is under contract for 2024? If they do, would the Chargers be willing to part with draft capital? Belichick is 27 wins away from tying Don Shula for the most head-coaching victories of all time. Would he take a considerable pay cut to join up with Herbert and make a final run at the record? If Belichick wants $20 to 25 million a year, that is likely a non-starter for the Chargers financially.
Would the Chargers pay the freight (in salary and potential draft compensation) for current Patriots coach Bill Belichick? (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)Jim Harbaugh, University of Michigan head coach
Harbaugh is in contract extension talks with Michigan. This is the latest from The Athletic’s Austin Meek: “Harbaugh has been presented with a draft of a deal that would pay him roughly $11 million per year plus incentives, but sources involved in the process aren’t confident a deal will come together before the Rose Bowl.” (Michigan plays Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.) Harbaugh played two seasons at quarterback for the Chargers in 1999 and 2000, so he has some history with the organization. He went 44-19 as a head coach with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, making the Super Bowl in 2012. Offensive mind, experience, proven winner — Harbaugh checks a ton of boxes. But will he leave Michigan?
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Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator
Smith was the Chargers offensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2021. He left after that season to take the OC job on Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins staff. Smith was and still is beloved in the Chargers’ offensive line room. The familiarity with many of the Chargers players, including Herbert, makes him an interesting candidate. He made a huge impact despite only spending one season with the Chargers. That can be pinned largely on his ability to connect and relate to players. The Dolphins rank fifth in offensive EPA per play over the past two seasons, according to TruMedia.
Kellen Moore, Chargers offensive coordinator
It will be interesting to see if Moore actually gets a head-coaching interview with the Chargers. If the Chargers were really considering Moore as a candidate, they likely would have made him interim head coach for the final three games to get a defined look at how he operates in that role. The Chargers, instead, elevated edge rushers coach Giff Smith. Moore’s had his moments this season as a designer and play caller. But the run game has been atrocious, and his protection plans have been exposed at times, particularly late in games. Has he done enough to be in the conversation?
The Chargers could’ve made Kellen Moore the interim head coach to get a better look at him, so will he get an interview with them? (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)Mike Macdonald, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator
Macdonald has coordinated a stellar defense in Baltimore. The Chargers also saw this unit firsthand when they lost to the Ravens, 20-10, in Week 12. The Ravens rank second in defensive EPA per play this season, according to TruMedia. Still, Macdonald only has two seasons of play-calling experience in the NFL. A young, up-and-coming defensive mind with limited experience? There are a lot of parallels to Staley here.
Thomas Brown, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator
The Chargers interviewed Brown for their open offensive coordinator position last offseason, so he has familiarity with the organization. It has been a mess of a season in Carolina, but Brown is nonetheless a respected leader.
Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
Morris took over as Rams DC after the Chargers hired Staley in 2021. He kept the bones of Staley’s defense in place despite not having much experience with the system. The Rams won the Super Bowl in Morris’ first season. He would be able to talk the language of Staley’s defense without being married to it philosophically. That would matter as the Chargers transition. Morris got his first-heading coaching job in 2011 at 33 years old with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went 17-31 over three seasons. He also went 4-7 as the Falcons interim head coach in 2020.
Raheem Morris would bring familiarity with the Chargers defensive scheme but wouldn’t be bound to the philosophy. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator
The Cardinals have started three quarterbacks this season between Joshua Dobbs (eight starts), Clayton Tune (one start) and Kyler Murray (four starts). They do not have much talent on offense. Despite that, Petzing has produced a functional unit in Arizona. He is 36 years old, and this is his first season calling plays in the NFL. The Chargers will likely be looking for a more experienced candidate.
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Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator
Callahan is the son of Bill Callahan, one of the best offensive line coaches in football who is currently with the Cleveland Browns. Brian Callahan has spent the past five seasons with the Bengals. Since 2021, the Bengals rank seventh in EPA per play on offense, according to TruMedia.
Shane Waldron, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
Waldron has overseen the resurgence of quarterback Geno Smith in Seattle. He is a smart schemer who could be an exciting pairing for Herbert, though this year’s Seahawks have taken a step back offensively.
Jim Schwartz, Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator
Schwartz went 29-51 as Lions head coach from 2009 to 2013. This season, he has turned the Browns defense into the best unit in football. His aggressive, more simplistic defensive philosophy would be a big change from how Staley coached and schemed.
(Top photo of Ben Johnson: Jeff Nguyen / Detroit Lions via Associated Press)
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