The Los Angeles Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco Friday, in hopes of turning the tide on one of the more disappointing stretches for a franchise in recent NFL history.
Despite the fact that there could be more than a half dozen head coaching vacancies this offseason, with the Chargers, Raiders, and Panthers already open, it could prove difficult for Staley to land a top job so soon after an embarrassing 63-27 loss fittingly led to his dismissal.
Still, between an organization that has had a revolving door outside its head coach's office in recent years and franchises in the market for a defensive coordinator, Staley could ultimately wind up back on the sideline as soon as 2024.
Here's a look at some possible next destinations for Staley:
Carolina Panthers Head Coach
The Carolina Panthers may struggle to fill their head coaching vacancy, after Frank Reich became the third head coach fired by David Tepper since purchasing the team in 2018.
"I'd want nothing to do with that Panthers job," an NFL pro personnel director told FanBuzz. "You'd have an overbearing owner, you wouldn't have a quarterback, and you'd have no draft picks to build with."
Those conditions might create a perfect storm for Brandon Staley to land a second head coaching opportunity this offseason, despite perhaps being negatively viewed around the league based on how woefully the Chargers underperformed during his tenure. The Panthers' defense has some young talent that could benefit from Staley's defense-first mindset.
New York Giants Defensive Coordinator
There have been multiple reports this season of significant friction between Giants head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, which could lead to Daboll making a change at defensive coordinator this offseason.
While the Giants' defense has turned things around in recent weeks, it remains to be seen if the relationship between Martindale and Daboll can be salvaged.
Given that this is just Daboll's second season as a head coach, and that he has such a strong offensive background, Staley could be an attractive candidate to replace Martindale and an ideal fit for the Giants because he would bring an experienced voice to Daboll's staff and could serve as a "head coach" of New York's defense.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has come under fire this season, and never more so since a disappointing performance in a Week 14 loss to the New York Giants.
Both Matt LaFleur and Staley are former assistants on Sean McVay's staff with the Los Angeles Rams, and given that Staley's scheme is nearly identical to the defense that Barry runs and LaFleur prefers, the former Chargers head coach could be a name to watch if the Packers move on from Barry.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will likely once again be a coveted name during the coaching carousel this offseason.
After turning Dallas' defense into one of the most dominant in the league the past two seasons could wind up taking a head coaching job in coming months.
There are few defenses in the league that boast the kind of game-altering talent as Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, which will likely make it a destination job for prospective coordinators. If Quinn walks, and McCarthy doesn't promote from within, Staley could keep the ball rolling from what Quinn has built in recent years.
MORE: Chargers' Top Candidates to Replace Brandon Staley as Head Coach
