The last two LA Chargers head coaches wound up joining the San Francisco 49ers after their tenure in LA ended. Anthony Lynn served as the assistant head coach and running backs coach for two seasons before opening the door for Brandon Staley to become the assistant head coach in 2024.
Staley was in the running for the 49ers' defensive coordinator job despite not having the best track record. The job ended up going to former head coach Robert Saleh, who is returning to San Francisco after a disappointing tenure with the New York Jets.
Saleh didn't think the 49ers had enough former Chargers coaches who struggled defensively with the Bolts. The 49ers hired former Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, creating quite the 1-2 punch with Staley if he stays in San Francisco in 2025.
49ers hire former Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley
Saleh coached under Bradley on the Seattle Seahawks and followed him to Jacksonville when Bradley got the head coaching job in 2013. Bradley was fired towards the end of the 2016 season, leadin him and Saleh to go their seperate ways.
Bradley would take the Chargers defensive coordinator job and hold the position through 2020. Saleh went on to become the 49ers defensive coordinator, a position he would hold for four seasons before eventually getting the Jets job.
Bradley's instant impact on the Chargers was tremendous as he quickly turned the team's defense around. The Chargers went from being ranked 29th in points allowed per game in 2016 to ranking third in 2017 in Bradley's first season.
The 2018 Chargers, who are the most successful team of the last 10 years, ranked eighth in points allowed per game under Bradley. It appeared as if the Chargers were ready going to go on a long, successful run with a great defense but that was not the case.
The Chargers regressed to 14th in points allowed per game in 2019 and 23rd in 2020. Bradley was unable to overcome injuries and players regressing with age. As great as Bradley's cover 3 defense was when it was working, he did not show the ability to adapt and actually play to the strengths of those on the roster.
Thus, Bradley was shown the door alongside Lynn after the 2020 season. Bradley spent one season with the Las Vegas Raiders and ranked 26th in points allowed per game. Bradley has since spent the last three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, who have ranked 28th, 28th, and 24th in points allowed per game.