LA Chargers: Keeping Anthony Lynn won’t work, just look at recent history

It seems more and more likely that the LA Chargers will allow Anthony Lynn to coach in 2021, which would be a mistake.

The LA Chargers have masked a wildly disappointing 2020 campaign with some meaningless wins down the stretch. On one hand, they are good for Justin Herbert as the rookie quarterback can get some momentum heading into 2021. On the other hand, the Bolts have really butchered their stock in the 2021 NFL Draft.

One worry that many fans are now having is that Anthony Lynn will get one more go in 2021. The Bolts are playing the Kansas City Chiefs’ second-stringers and are actually favored in the game. There is a decent chance that they win, finishing with a 7-9 record via four straight wins, three of which were divisional wins.

The idea of Lynn sticking around has picked up steam and solely based on how the LA Chargers operate and the positive comments that Justin Herbert has had about Lynn, I would be more shocked if he was fired in the offseason, personally.

It is a shame because that would be a massive mistake. Not only have we seen enough from Lynn and this coaching staff over the last two years to realize that it is not a fit, but recent history shows us that this never really works.

I challenge anyone reading this to find a head coach who was legitimately on the hot seat (not just the fans complaining for a new coach after one mediocre season) that bounced back and actually proved his team right in keeping him.

And no, guys like Andy Reid and Mike Tomlin do not fall into this category if they had a disappointing season. They are long-tenured head coaches and have much more benefit of the doubt than Lynn does.

Recent history shows us that these coaches on the hot seat do not magically turn it around after 2+ years of disappointment, which Lynn has had. It is not hard to find some examples.

Matt Patricia and Dan Quinn were both fired this season and both were in this boat. Patricia and Quinn were absolutely on the hot seat after 2019, but their respective teams held onto them. Both got fired during the year and had a combined 4-12 record this season. They both had to punt their seasons away.

Jay Gruden is a great example from last year (Ron Rivera was also fired midseason, but that was more of the team just needing to start anew). Gruden was on the hot seat prior to the season after two losing seasons and started 0-5 to get the boot from Washington.

After posting a combined 1-31 record, the Cleveland Browns thought it was a good idea to keep Hue Jackson around for the 2018 season. The team started 2-5-1 and that was enough to get Jackson fired. The Browns went 5-3 in the second half of the season and could’ve snuck into the playoffs with a better first half.

When every single fan knows the team is better off without a head coach then it is probably a sign that it is time to move on. It has gotten to that point with Lynn and the worst thing the team can do is give him one more chance, start 2-6 next season and fire him only to punt away the 2021 season as well.

Justin Herbert might be young but there is no reason to not want to contend next season. The LA Chargers need to rip the Band-Aid off and wish Anthony Lynn the best of luck in his future endeavors.