Brandon Staley is officially on the hot seat after posing a (so-far) disappointing 2023-2024 campaign. Despite the talent on the roster, the team is below .500 and the defense looks just as bad as ever. This is more troubling, because Staley was elevated from the defensive side of the football.
While he isn’t fired yet, TGH presents a look at some potential head coach replacements for the Chargers if Staley is, in fact, let go either midseason or in the offseason.
Bill Belichick
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Belichick’s time in New England is probably up. That seems strange for a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, but the disastrous 2023 season coupled with one playoff appearance since Tom Brady left signifies that it might be time. Not to mention, he’s also been responsible for some absolutely abysmal drafting as of late.
These issues don’t mean he doesn’t still have some left in the tank, though. He may be 72-years-old at the beginning of the next season, but he is only 28 wins away from beating Don Shula’s regular season win total and 16 away from his combined regular and postseason win total (Shula holds the record for both at 328 and 347, respectively).
Belichick is the best NFL head coach of all time, and not many would argue that point. It seems only fair that he get a real chance of beating Shula’s all-time record in Los Angeles even though he’s faltering as of late. Giving him a talented roster could help him achieve that goal and the Chargers achieve their goal of more playoff success.
The team needs to at least attempt to keep him out of the draft room, however. Good luck with that, but an attempt needs to be made nonetheless.
Kellen Moore
Moore seemed poised to become a head coach after the last few seasons ended. Alas, he’s remained an offensive coordinator in Dallas and now in Los Angeles. But now that he’s in a place where he seems to be the heir to the throne, an early exit for Staley could spell his rise to power.
This, obviously, makes the most sense for the Chargers. Moore has been seen as a talented offensive mind and, if given full control of the offense, could make some significant headway in getting Herbert and this offense to new heights. Plus, a firing of Staley midseason could give the Chargers a chance to see what he would look like as a head coach without fully committing to him, which is a boon to the front office.
Eric Bieniemy
Another potential head coach list, another Bieniemy segment.
What’s left to say that hasn’t been said for four years now? Bieniemy was the architect of the Mahomes’ offense for their recent run of success. Then, since he wasn’t being taken seriously due to the embarrassment of riches on the Chiefs, left to prove himself further with the Commanders.
In D.C., Bieniemy has Sam Howell (a quarterback that no one is completely sure about, to say the least) leading the league in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. If this doesn’t prove he’s worth a head coaching job for Justin Herbert and company, then just look at the Chiefs’ offense. While it’s not anemic, the explosivity of it is gone, and the struggles are apparent without him.
Someone needs to hire this man. It’s time.
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson will be snapped up right away once the season ends. That’s almost a given at this point, unless he feels some deep loyalty to finish what he started in Detroit.
The Lions are 8-2 for the first time since 1962. Jared Goff (aside from that performance against the Bears, despite the win) looks like a number one overall draft selection again. The running game is cooking, and the receivers are playing above their pay grades.
Honestly, the fact that he has this franchise looking like it does is worth a hire. Being that the Chargers also have an empty trophy case, Johnson is worth a hire, full reign over the coaching staff and then some. This guy isn’t afraid to spit in the face of franchise expectations, and given this offensive roster, would become the Chiefs’ worst divisional nightmare in no time.
Lou Anarumo
At the outset, it is very doubtful that the Chargers would go for another defensive head coach after the Staley tenure. But Lou Anarumo could be one to go for if the front office weren’t scared away from defensively-minded guys all together.
This defense is absolutely loaded with talent. One look at the depth chart will would fill anyone in on that. But what Anarumo brings to the table is the exact thing Chargers fans have been lamenting for decades now. He runs a second-half, adjustment-oriented defense. As the defensive coordinator for the Bengals, he rarely gives away games late, which is a Chargers franchise specialty.
The offensive coodinator and passing game coordinator hires would have to be through-the-roof impressive for Los Angeles to consider another defensive head coach. But, if they were going to do one at all, Anarumo is the guy.
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Featured image courtesy of NFL.com
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