Tag: Staley

Dec 18, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley during the fourth quarter during an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Chargers part with longtime head athletic trainer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Chargers moved on from head athletic trainer Damon Mitchell, who had worked for the franchise in various capacities since 1999, ESPN reported Thursday.

Mitchell began with the Chargers as an intern 24 years ago. He became the head athletic trainer in 2017 and served in that role for six seasons.

The Chargers went 10-7 in the 2022 regular season and earned a wild-card berth. They led the Jaguars 27-0 late in the first half before Jacksonville rallied for a stunning 31-30 win in the AFC wild-card round.

Los Angeles played without wide receiver Mike Williams in that game after he sustained a back injury playing in Week 18, when the Chargers had nothing to gain.

The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi during the offseason, and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill left the team this week to join the Miami Dolphins and work under their new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio.

Los Angeles’ Brandon Staley will remain as the team’s head coach for a third season in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

QB Justin Herbert’s voice prominent in Chargers’ OC search

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Justin Herbert might not get the keys to the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator search, but the quarterback will steer when general manager Tom Telesco seeks input.

“I know that’s what (head coach) Brandon (Staley) thinks,” Telesco said Thursday. “And that’s the way I’ve always operated with quarterbacks who’ve kind of earned that.”

The offensive coordinator hire will be the third in Herbert’s four seasons, and Staley said Wednesday the replacement for fired Joe Lombardi needs to be innovative and adaptable.

More than anything, the play-caller must showcase his plan to feature, develop and maximize Herbert.

“We’ll always be a passing team,” Telesco said. “We have Justin Herbert. We like to throw the ball. We’re never going to be a 50/50-balance team of run and pass. But you do have to be able to run the ball efficiently and effectively, especially in the second half of games when you have leads. We were unable to do that this year.”

The Chargers were 30th in the NFL in rushing, and while not striving for exact run-pass balance, Telesco and Staley pointed to a less-predictable plan on offense.

Staley, who coached under Sean McVay with the Rams before taking over the Chargers in 2021, said ideally he would find a coordinator familiar with the McVay- or Kyle Shanahan-style scheme. The Chargers reportedly were denied in their request to interview Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Wes Phillips, who worked under McVay on the same staff as Staley in 2020.

Phillips is the son of former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints coach Bum Phillips.

Other options could include former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, who served as Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 and before that was the team’s quarterbacks coach. His tenure overlapped with Telesco, now in his 11th year with the franchise.

“There are some positives here,” Telesco said. “Understand that I’m not sitting up here saying I deserve anything, but I like where our roster is headed. I love the coaching staff.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley reacts against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Staley back in 2023, believes in Chargers’ culture

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Chargers are rolling the dice on Brandon Staley leading the team to better days in 2023.

Following a crushing playoff defeat at Jacksonville, Staley emerged gainfully employed from a Tuesday meeting with ownership and general manager Tom Telesco, who was also told he would be back in 2023.

Staley was spared his job, and the Chargers’ head coach said a positive culture established during his two seasons on the job is enough reason to believe the franchise is on the verge of a breakthrough.

“I have a lot of confidence in how we do things here, and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Staley said Wednesday of whether he was worried he could be fired. “I am aware of the speculation. I have to be briefed on it to be prepared … and I do have a family. But I was not worried about that because I know what goes on here on a day-to-day basis. I know what we have on that locker room. I know what’s out on that field. I’m excited to keep going.”

Big changes are coming on Staley’s staff.

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day were fired this week as the dust settled from the 31-30 wild-card loss to the Jaguars. Jacksonville erased a 27-point deficit to end the season for the Chargers in dramatic disappointment.

The risk-embracing Staley is 19-15 as a head coach and said the final results are his responsibility. A 10-7 record in 2022 included a mark of 1-5 against 2022 playoff teams.

“I needed to coach better in all three phases and I didn’t,” Staley said. “I take full responsibility.”

Los Angeles finished in the top 10 in multiple offensive categories in 2022 thanks in large part to 24-year-old quarterback Justin Herbert. With Herbert (4,739 passing yards, 25 TDs in 2022) and running back Austin Ekeler (1,637 total yards, 18 TDs) as the linchpins, the vacancy alongside Staley should be quite attractive.

The Chargers are planning to hire a coach who will implement a scheme and approach familiar to Staley. He mentioned Rams coach Sean McVay — Staley was hired after serving as McVay’s defensive coordinator — and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan when asked for a philosophical guidepost to the type of hire he’s seeking at offensive coordinator.

“I think we have one of the top jobs in the league,” Staley said. “We’re going to be thorough with our process. There’s not a rush to do anything. You want to make sure that you hire the best coach.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (L) warms up in front of assistant coach Duce Staley (R) before a game against the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Lions add Duce Staley as assistant head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duce Staley is joining the Detroit Lions as assistant head coach and running backs coach, per multiple reports.

Staley held the same title with the Philadelphia Eagles under Doug Pederson, who was fired at the end of the 2020 season and replaced by Nick Sirianni. Staley interviewed for the position.

In Detroit, Staley joins Dan Campbell’s staff along with several other former NFL players. Campbell was a tight end and Aaron Glenn, the team’s defensive coordinator, played cornerback. Offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn was a running back in the league and most recently head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Staley asked out of his contract with the Eagles, according to reports.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said on Jan. 19 he received “quite a few” text messages from current and former players endorsing Staley to be the team’s head coach.

After a thorough interview process with nine known candidates, Lurie reportedly met with Staley to advise him of the team’s choice of Sirianni.

–Field Level Media