The Los Angeles Chargers made the expected, and long overdue, decision to fire head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, after reaching rock bottom following an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Staley's underwhelming tenure in Los Angeles comes to a close after posting a 24-24 record as the Chargers head coach. The Chargers made just one postseason appearance under Staley, which came to a disappointing end as the Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit to end the Chargers' season in the 2022 AFC Wild Card Round.
After Staley followed the Raiders' Josh McDaniel and Panthers' Frank Reich as the first three head coaches fired this season, the Chargers vacancy is expected to be the most coveted position this hiring cycle, and should draw interest from some of the most sought after coaches in the sport.
"I'd love the opportunity to coach that quarterback," an NFC offensive coordinator told FanBuzz, of the Chargers' opening and chance to coach Justin Herbert.
As the Chargers embark on the coaching search, here's a look at the five top candidates to replace Staley in Los Angeles:
Bill Belichick
The clock seems to be ticking on Bill Belichick's tenure with the New England Patriots, which will likely end at the nadir of one of the most successful runs of any head coach in league history.
Recently, an AFC executive told FanBuzz that there could be a 'bidding war' for Belichick, with one of the teams significantly interested in the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach's services being the Chargers.
With Tom Brady, Belichick hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy six times, but without the future Hall of Fame quarterback Belichick is just 28-35 since the 2020 campaign. If Belichick believes he can win a Super Bowl with Justin Herbert, and the Chargers aren't scared off by the most disappointing season of the 71-year-old's career, don't be surprised if Belichick winds up being Los Angeles' top candidate.
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is going to have his pick of coaching jobs for the second consecutive hiring cycle, and there isn't a more attractive opening than the Chargers.
One year after opting to return to the Detroit Lions, Johnson could make the leap to running his own program in Los Angeles, coaching one of the most talented quarterbacks in the sport.
The Chargers' top priority with this hire must be finding an offensive-minded head coach who can craft a system around Herbert's best traits, while unlocking the big-play potential of wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston. Johnson might be the best fit to check all the boxes the Chargers must with this hire.
Kellen Moore
If the Chargers hired Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator prior to this season with one eye trained on him eventually succeeding Staley, this is the chance to make that move long-term.
Moore was brought to Los Angeles primarily to bring a new offensive philosophy for Herbert, in hopes of changing the familiar outcome of underachieving and the Chargers coming undone in late-game situations. This season, it has primarily been the Chargers' defense that has let Los Angeles Down.
Through 14 weeks, and with Herbert battling through a finger injury, before his season came to an end in Week 14, the Chargers are averaging just over 333 yards of total offense per game, but ranks sixth in the league in passing. If the Chargers believe that Herbert could benefit from continuity and that Moore having more input over the direction of the franchise would help pierce the glass ceiling, he could make some sense as the permanent hire.
Jim Harbaugh
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For the past two hiring cycles Jim Harbaugh has been a popular name, only to return to his alma mater where he has led the University of Michigan to two straight College Football Playoff appearances, but, this opportunity and this season might be his ideal time to make the jump back into the NFL.
For Harbaugh, the chance to coach a quarterback of Herbert's pedigree rarely arrives in a coach's career, likewise any impending disciplinary action towards him personally or the Wolverines in the aftermath of this fall's alleged advanced scouting and sign stealing operation could make a return to Ann Arbor untenable or at least unattractive.
Harbaugh's playing experience at the quarterback position, helped guide quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a Super Bowl appearance during his time with the San Francisco 49ers and is a known program builder could lead to the Chargers putting on a full-court press to hire him away from Michigan.
Lincoln Riley
Lincoln Riley found out how difficult it is to win in major college football, even with one of the sport's most prolific quarterbacks, which could make a move to the NFL an attractive proposition this offseason.
Riley has spent just two years at the helm of USC, and even with Caleb Williams, the Trojans will not be making an appearance even in the New Year's Six bowl games later this month. In Los Angeles, Riley could import his Air Raid scheme into an offense led by a quarterback plenty capable of pushing the ball downfield with some potentially prolific weapons to make immediate strides.
Kliff Kingsbury
The Arizona Cardinals gave Kliff Kingsbury $30 million to go away back in January, and that alone is plenty of motivation to stay away from the game of football altogether or take a broadcast job, but if Kingsbury has the itch to get back on the sideline, the Chargers have to be an alluring opportunity.
Kingsbury likes to stretch the field and was one of the most unique schemes in the NFL during his time with the Cardinals. Herbert would be the best quarterback that he has had the opportunity to coach, and Kingsbury would infuse some excitement both into the Chargers' offense and about the team generally entering 2024.
