Following a historic loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Los Angeles Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I want to thank Tom and Brandon for their hard work, dedication, and professionalism, and wish both them and their great families nothing but the best,” Chargers proprietor Dean Spanos said in a statement. “These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly – especially when you consider the number of people they impact.
“We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need new vision. Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they’ve earned more. Building and maintaining a championship-caliber program remains our ultimate goal. And reimagining how we achieve that goal begins today.”
Giff Smith and JoJo Picket have been named the interim head coach and GM, respectively.
Thursday evening’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders is without doubt one of the most embarrassing defeats in latest reminiscence. The Chargers’ 63 factors allowed have been the most in franchise history, and their 42-point deficit was the franchise’s third-largest margin of defeat. So as to add insult to damage, the loss knocked Los Angeles’ playoff odds right down to lower than one p.c, according to the New York Instances.
The sport capped off an abysmal stretch for the Chargers’ protection. In Staley’s three years as head coach, the Chargers protection by no means completed greater than nineteenth in defensive EPA/Play and twenty first in defensive DVOA. In 2023, Staley’s protection completed with the fifth-worst explosive passing fee allowed regardless of working a two-high scheme particularly designed to eradicate explosive passes.
It wasn’t for an absence of expertise acquisition, both. Staley had two All-Professional defensive abilities in edge rusher Joey Bosa and security Derwin James. Telesco then tried his greatest so as to add marquee defensive expertise every season, bringing in linebacker Khalil Mack through commerce and cornerback J.C. Jackson on a five-year, $82 million contract. Jackson performed all of seven video games earlier than getting traded again to New England, whereas the serviceable 32-year-old edge rusher Mack is predicted to price the Chargers a cap hit of $38.5 million in 2024.
In Staley’s inaugural season, the Chargers missed the possibility at a playoff berth due to Staley’s clock mismanagement in a Week 18 sport towards the Raiders. In 2022, Los Angeles blew the third-largest lead in NFL playoff historical past. The Chargers will now possible fail to make the playoffs as soon as once more.
The rookie contract window for Justin Herbert ends this season, along with his market-setting contract kicking in in 2024. According to OvertheCap, the Los Angeles Chargers presently sit $42.2 million over the 2024 cap threshold, the third-least projected cap area within the league.
