OT: NFL Scorigami! Then Chargers Fire Coach & GM
Just 4 days after ignominiously losing to the Vikes 3-0, the Raiders set a franchise scoring record and scorigami'd the Chargers 63-21.
Today the Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley & GM Tom Telesco.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Hate to say it but if Jim is leaving for the NFL, this is the job. Imo
December 15th, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^
*sigh*
Yup.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
I hate to say it... but he should.
It would be awesome for him: its a good team and he can compete for a super bowl.
only caveat: win the natty this year first.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
I would rather say Candyman 3 times than ever utter the words you just did.
December 15th, 2023 at 6:48 PM ^
Fair enough. lol
It feels weird to reread them... but I do believe the man wants a superbowl ring, and I understand that.
For me, reading whatever tea leaves I might, i think the reason his contract isn't renewed at this time is that he wants to win it all and then give the NFL a run. And he deserves that.
selfishly I want him to coach our team till the wheels fall off, but I get it.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
He would have his quarterback in place day one.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
I disagree about this being a top job. This is a roster that is top heavy, aging, and $45m over the cap already with key deals that need to be done. They do have a franchise QB in place which admittedly is half the battle in the NFL but beyond that the Chargers are in rough shape. As a Lions fan it pains me to say it but the Bears if it opens is a primo job. Mountains of draft capital and cap space with an already emerging roster. If that opens and they pursue I would be very nervous.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Eh. Kevin Warren is there. That isn’t going to work for Harbaugh or Warren.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
Although I don't really follow the NFL, apparently San Diego's ownership family (the Spanos') are known for steering clear of coaches (and players) who bring lots of baggage with them. In the opinion of at least one local columnist that makes Harbaugh to the Chargers quite unlikely:
December 15th, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
The article says the Chargers were fine with Manti T'eo because he convinced them he was just catfished even though he perpetuated the falsehood after he knew.
But they wouldn't be ok with Harbaugh who had a zoom call, bought a cheese burger and had a staffer break an antiquated rule that lead to zero advantage.
It's clear Krasovic just boarded the lynch Harbaugh hype train and is regurgitating garbage.
Harbaugh's 'baggage' is about as big as a prom queen's clutch and any team would be happy to have him even the Chargers,
December 15th, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^
The writer is also correct in that, "Michigan can pay him more than most NFL teams pay their coaches and afford him full say on personnel moves".
December 15th, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
They are also notoriously cheap. Unless Harbs is just tired of the hoops to jump thru in college I don't see him leaving for the Chargers.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
I'm with you. Chargers is a middle-of-the-road job at best. You didn't mention ownership, but their ownership absolutely sucks. Now that Snyder is out, Spanos is arguably the worst owner in the league (him or that truck-stop owner down in Cleveland).
They're also infamously the 15th or so most popular team in their own market. That's really not fun for the team or coaches.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
Yeah shit roster other than Herbert, shit salary cap situation and absolutely shit ownership. Probably worst in the league now that Snyder's gone.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
They have a franchise QB, top end RB and one of the best wr in the league. Roster cuts are easy and they have 8 draft picks including a top 10 pick. Anyone saying the bears job is better is out of their minds.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
Defense is garbage, OL sucks.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:04 PM ^
Which is easier to fix. Bad oline or no franchise QB?
December 15th, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^
Bad offensive lines break franchise QBs. And are harder to make.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
If they didn't have holes, the job wouldn't be open.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:59 PM ^
Harbaugh is about to turn 60. If someone offers him an NFL job, he’s taking it
December 15th, 2023 at 6:32 PM ^
The Chargers basically play 17 away games every season.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
He would NEVER go to Chicago. Per all the Bears' fans I work with, the front office and owners are notorious doing what they want to do and not listening to the coach. Harbaugh would want too much control and the Bears management would not give it up.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
I’m wondering if all the Bears fans you work with are the best sources.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
Among the upper echelon of NFL ownership the Fords actually garner more respect than the Spanos family. Which is strange considering how bad the Lions have been for so long.
Spanos' are considered the backest of the back benchers. They are a poorly run organization consistently making fucked up decisions. Much like the Padres they burn through a head coach about every 2 years. Don't do it Jim.
December 15th, 2023 at 6:47 PM ^
lol hopefully his contract negotiation inches across the finish line before the season ends.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
Pretty crazy how quickly he rose up the coaching ranks in the NFL. LB coach to head coach in 3 years. I was wondering if he would be good to replace Glenn as the Lions DC but he really barely has any experience.
College
Brandon began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois from 2006 to 2008 before working with defensive linemen and special teams at Division III St. Thomas (Minnesota) in 2009. In 2010 and 2011 Staley served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College (Kansas). He spent the 2012 season at Tennessee as a graduate assistant. Staley would then spend three seasons (2013, 2015, 2016) as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach with John Carroll University (Ohio).[6] 2014 was spent as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at James Madison University (Virginia).[7]
Chicago Bears
In 2017, Staley was hired by the Chicago Bears as their outside linebackers coach.[8]
Denver Broncos
On January 15, 2019, Staley was hired by the Denver Broncos as their outside linebackers coach, reuniting with then head coach Vic Fangio.[9]
Los Angeles Rams
On January 16, 2020, Staley was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as their defensive coordinator, replacing Wade Phillips.[10][11] In his only year as coordinator in 2020, Staley helped guide the Rams defense to 1st in points and total yards allowed, positioning himself as an attractive head coaching candidate around the league.[12]
Los Angeles Chargers
On January 17, 2021, Staley was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers[13] to replace Anthony Lynn.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
Purely based on the defensive performance this season, I don't think he would be an upgrade on Aaron Glenn. Glenn isn't exactly killing it either.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
I agree. He seems like he got some right place at the right time promotions very quickly.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:50 PM ^
The "right place" in this case is he worked under Sean McVay for that one year with the Rams. McVay's coaching tree has been incredibly successful, considering how young he is.
- Zac Taylor (already made a Super Bowl)
- Matt LaFlerr (3 straight 13 win seasons with the Packers)
- Jedd Fisch (turned Univ of Arizona around, pronto -- obviously Jedd features under some other coaching trees as well, specifically Jim Harbaugh)
- Kevin O'Connell (made playoffs in first year with the Vikings)
So if you're young and considered an "up & comer", some franchise will hire you -- and have some success.
December 15th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
Agree, probably the main reason they hired Staley, the connection to McVay. Ekeler and Allen, as someone already brought up, are pretty solid for offensive skill players. The defense, Bosa, Mack, Derwin James, also has some good pieces, if they're healthy, are good, but that's been an issue. It would have to rank above the Bears, Raiders and Panthers, especially for a coach that wants to win now.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:46 PM ^
Aaron Glenn is terrible. Campbell needs to fire the entire defensive staff. That unit is holding them back big time.
December 15th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
Anthony Lynn, the guy that got shitcanned for doing such an awful job in Detroit……I hope Glenn gets the same after this seasons over
December 15th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
I am sure the Chargers are not going to match the contract money Michigan has on the table for Harbaugh at the moment. I would look for the Chargers to go the cheap route and hire Ben Johnson or another young and up and comer. The Chargers ALWAYS go the cheap route.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:53 PM ^
Fingers crossed that continues for the Chargers.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
I reserve a special place in hell for the Spanos family, the owners of the franchise. They tried several times to blackmail the San Diego city and county to build them a stadium, and then abandoned the region for LA in the pursuit of more profits.
I don't know if there are any "good ownership situations" in the NFL any more, but this would be the major concern that might prevent a move by JH to the Los Angeles Chargers.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
Kellen Moore is the OC there and been talked up as a coach in the past so if the Chargers show any life that's an easy low-cost/high-upside okay by them as well
December 15th, 2023 at 2:52 PM ^
With the crap shoot that cfb has turned into wrt the transfer portal, I'm surprised that anyone who has an opportunity to coach in the NFL would stay...
Players you developed get poached and the NCAA is on a vendetta if your name is Jim Harbaugh.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:36 PM ^
What significant contributors has Michigan lost to the portal?
December 15th, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^
If your team isn't in the playoffs, they are going to leave.
December 15th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
If you think that Harbaugh marches to the beat of the drum heard by the many, I think you don’t know the man or his history at all.🤔
December 15th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Worst case scenario is that Harbaugh leaves in middle January. However, I suspect that Michigan will probably know by then if he is leaving or not.
Hire DeBoer.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
The fact the new contract news has literally died so quickly after all that noise just a little bit ago is most likely a sign, if had to guess
And yes, back the truck up for DeBoer if Harbaugh leaves. Though who knows if UM would or he would leave UW
December 15th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
DeBoer or Lanning are my 1a and 1b.
However, with them moving the Big Ten, I do wonder just how much of a step up they see Michigan. Like the SEC, you don't see too many head coaches moving within a conference.
December 15th, 2023 at 6:40 PM ^
Jedd Fisch would be right there also after DeBoer. Lanning is more destined back to the SEC is my guess
December 15th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
The Chargers organization can eat poop. Will continue to enjoy their ineptitude and failures unless they return to SD. If Harbaugh does go there, I'll definitely be conflicted though.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
FWIW-
On the betting sites, Bill Belichick, Frank Smith, Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik, and Brian Flores are at better odds of getting the Chargers gig than Harbaugh is.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
BB makes the most sense and the greatest splash for the Chargers. Gives him another great QB to work with to show that he can win without TB12. Plus Chargers can get a 2 for 1 as he would most likely also get the GM.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Re: 2 for 1 - a potential bargain for the Chargers, but Belichick as GM doesn't sound like a recipe for success.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:36 PM ^
It’s the Chargers. They’d get a name and on the relative cheap. Such a move makes sense.
December 15th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
I guess if I am Belichick and I want a redemption project - for me and for a team - then the Chargers might be a good candiate.