Chargers' Top 5 Ideal Brandon Staley Replacements

A breakdown of the top 5 best candidates to replace Brandon Staley.

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a brand-new look in 2024. After their blowout loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, both head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco were let go. There are still three games left in the season and Griff Smith will step in as interim HC and Jojo Wooden as interim GM. 

Despite the possibility that both Smith and Wooden can interview for the job once the season ends, we have an idea about who should be next in line to take over the Chargers team as HC. 

1. Frank Smith

Frank Smith has a ton of familiarity with the Chargers organization, as he was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2021. Smith left the team to take on the offensive coordinator position for the Miami Dolphins. 

Under Smith's leadership, the Dolphins are one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. This will likely lead to Smith getting a shot at a head coaching position. What better place than to head back to the locker room he knows? 

Smith already has a relationship with Justin Herbert, and he could whip the offensive line and run game back into shape if he were to return to the Chargers organization. His time in Miami has been fruitful, and he is the ideal candidate currently. 

2. Dan Quinn

Dan Quinn has been a successful coach in the league. He was the defensive coordinator during the Seahawks Super Bowl run, where he corralled the "Legion of Boom." This led to his stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he posted a 43-42 record through five seasons. 

Quinn currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, which is currently the #1 defense in the NFL. The Chargers hiring Quinn could also bring some much-needed continuity, as he and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore worked for the Cowboys at the same time. 

Herbert has dealt with three offensive coordinators in his short career, and Quinn pairing with Moore would be nice. This is assuming that Moore does not get a head coaching opportunity elsewhere, or with the Chargers. 

3. Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore is an easy choice here, as he was brought over from the Dallas Cowboys to right the hip of the Chargers offense. Granted, the offense has struggled mightily this year, but a lot of that has to do with injuries. 

Moore has been a successful OC for both the Cowboys and Chargers, and his time to be a head coach is rapidly approaching. The Bolts could easily offer his first crack, and like the Dolphins, allow the organization to have a young and dynamic mind to change things. 

Moore is a strong and logical choice for the Chargers, and he has paid his dues. 

4. Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick has been linked to the Chargers HC job for quite a long time. We don't see it any differently. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is reportedly not happy with Belichick, and it appears Belichick has lost his spark. 

That is not to say that he isn't a hugely important coach. He would flourish practically everywhere, and he would make a ton of sense for the Chargers. 

There might be no one who is more poised to not only run a team but will make sure that draft picks are not wasted. The Bolts have seven draft picks in the 2024 draft, and Belichick knows how to bring out the best in young players.

5. Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson might be one of the most sought-after candidates for a head coaching position when the season ends. He has been instrumental in reviving the career of Jared Goff, but making sure everyone knows the Detroit Lions are for real. 

Johnson and company hung 41 points on the Chargers, and that likely put Dean Spanos on alert. Johnson might be one of the most alluring on this list, and it could be hard for the Chargers to bring him in. 

That is not to say they cannot achieve that, but Johnson is a bit lower on this list because of how many teams we expect to be trying to court him when the season ends. 

Johnson has completely turned around the Lions, and he could do so with the Chargers as well. 

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