The Los Angeles Chargers have consented to terms with Brandon Staley to become their next head coach, the group declared Sunday night.
He will be officially presented at a news conference on Thursday.
Staley served the previous season as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator, building up the top-ranked defense in the NFL behind star defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Staley’s unit impelled the Rams to a 10-6 season and a wild-card playoff prevail upon the Seattle Seahawks before the group left the postseason with a misfortune to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. In his first year as a NFL coordinator, Staley’s defense ranked No. 1 in efficiency, yards permitted per game and points permitted per game.
With the Chargers, Staley replaces mentor Anthony Lynn, who was terminated after four seasons and a 33-31 record.
The Chargers are falling off a 7-9 season that brought about a third-place finish in the AFC West.
Nonetheless, Staley acquires a list that incorporates a few cornerstone players, including rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, who became the most youthful quarterback in NFL history to toss 30 touchdown passes in single season. Staley likewise takes over a defensive unit that incorporates Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa and All-Pro security Derwin James.
“It’s hard to put into words just how excited I am for the opportunity to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ Head Coach,” Staley said in a statement. “While this is certainly a dream come true, it’s also a dream that’s just beginning. There’s a reason this was probably the most sought after job out there — from ownership, to the fans, to the city, to the men in that locker room — it’s the total package.”
The 38-year-old Staley has immediately ascended through the NFL ranks since he originally was recruited as a position coach in 2017 with the Chicago Bears. He spent two seasons in two seasons in Chicago under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio before he followed Fangio to the Denver Broncos, where he spent one season as outside linebackers mentor prior to joining the Rams’ staff.
Ramsey revealed to ESPN that he has been in contact with James about Staley’s recruiting and that James was “excited” about his new mentor. Ramsey has been a vocal advocate of Staley’s all through the mentor’s one season with the Rams.
“He would make a lot of organizations happy because he’s a great guy. He’s about ball, but at the same time he’s a players’ coach, and I love that about him, and I hope he’s here for a while,” Ramsey said last month. “But it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this is a one-and-done thing. I would be happy for him.”
Preceding coaching in the NFL, Staley coached for three seasons at John Carroll University, a Division III school in University Heights, Ohio, and furthermore spent a season as defensive coordinator at James Madison University.
“His coaching journey to this particular moment is inspiring; if not for the sheer perseverance and determination of it all, then certainly for the dramatic results it has produced for the teams and players he has coached,” Chargers president of football operations John Spanos said. “I know it’s cliché, but I know Brandon quite literally cannot wait to get to work.”
