The 2023 season has not been kind for Brandon Staley, who entered the year with a seat that was already warm thanks to the team's blown 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Chargers fans are calling for Staley's job and if the team misses the playoffs this season then it is more than likely that he will be let go. Staley himself all but confirmed that reality after the team's loss in Week 7 pushed the record to 2-4.
There is some speculation that a loss in Week 8 to the Chicago Bears could be the final straw in Staley's tenure. If so, the team could turn to an interim head coach before restarting the coaching cycle once again this upcoming spring.
Whether it be during the season or in January after the team misses the playoffs, firing Staley seems to be the most likely outcome here. With that in mind, it might be time to start looking at coaching candidates.
5 candidates to replace Brandon Staley as Chargers head coach:
5. Kellen Moore, Chargers offensive coordinator
If Staley is fired during the season then Kellen Moore would almost certainly be the interim head coach of the team the rest of the way through. Moore shouldn't just be considered an interim option, as he could be a candidate to replace Staley full-time.
This is part of the reason why firing Staley midseason might be the best call. By giving Moore half a season or so to coach this season the front office will get an idea if he can truly be a leader of men. If so, the Chargers could comfortably keep him in the building (to keep Justin Herbert from having more offensive coaching turnover) and can try to hire a home-run defensive coordinator.
If the Chargers do not fire Staley midseason then the team will have no real idea of whether or not Moore is head coach material. Hiring him then would be risky, but so is hiring any other coordinator without head coaching experience.
4. Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans offensive coordinator
The hottest coaching tree in the NFL right now is the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Seemingly everyone who has come from that coaching tree has been successful in the NFL with guys like Mike McDaniel completely turning NFL defenses on their heads.
The Chargers hired a defensive-minded head coach in Staley and the experiment failed, so fans would likely see the team pursue an offensive-minded head coach. There are some drawbacks in this, as it would probably lead to the end of Moore in LA and would cause yet another offensive change for Justin Herbert, but the end result could be beneficial.
The next coach from the Shanahan coaching tree who is due for a head coaching job is Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Slowik followed Demeco Ryans to the Texans this past offseason and the results have been great. That coaching staff has completely turned Houston around and Slowik has CJ Stoud looking like a top-12 quarterback in the NFL in his rookie season.
Slowik was someone who fans thought could be the offensive coordinator when the team fired Joe Lombardi this past offseason. While that did not pan out, Slowik putting together a solid season with the Texans will elevate his stock and put him in the conversation.
The Chargers may not want another inexperienced coach because it did not work with Staley, who is working against Slowik. But if the Chargers want to cash in on the Shanahan tree, he is the guy.
3. Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator
While Frank Smith is the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator under McDaniel, he does not come from the Shanahan coaching tree. McDaniel hired Smith away from the Chargers when he became the head coach of the Dolphins, making him the offensive coordinator.
Smith's connection to the Chargers after previously being on the staff could give him a leg up in the coaching search, especially if Chargers' ownership does not want to go after the big-name options that will have more competition.
Additionally, the Chargers could get some of that McDaniel offense that rubs off on Smith and hopefully translates in LA. That could add a new wrinkle to this Chargers offense, especially if Moore is still around.
What makes Smith an intriguing option is that he does not need to be the offensive play-caller like other offensive minds that are available. While Smith is an offensive-minded coach, the Chargers could hire him to be more of the CEO-type of head coach, giving Moore a chance to grow this offense in year two.
Suddenly, the Chargers could have a blend of what Moore is doing offensively with some Shanahan tendencies sprinkled in. The team would be getting a coach who is very respected throughout the league and would just need to find a home-run defensive coordinator to round out the staff.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic had an excellent write-up on Smith that highlighted his leadership abilities and why he is a great candidate to be an NFL head coach. If the reviews are already glowing (and they were when he was in LA, too) then he has to be considered.
2. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach
Jim Harbaugh is the coach that most Chargers fans on social media want to see the Chargers hire because he is the name that fans recognize the most. Harbaugh is certainly the biggest name that could potentially be available and he has essentially become this year's version of Sean Payton.
Harbaugh obviously has a great resume with the success he has had at both the NFL and collegiate level. Fans should still pump the brakes as many legitimate seem to think that hiring Harbaugh would be a guaranteed home run. As Payton has reminded fans this season, just because you are a big-name coach doesn't mean you will magically fix every problem.
Plus, there are some potential red flags as it pertains to Harbaugh in the NFL. He has not coached in the league in a decade and as Urban Meyer reminded fans, coaching in college is much different than coaching in the NFL. Add in the fact that Michigan is currently embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal and the Chargers might be hesitant to bring Harbaugh in.
That is not to say that Harbaugh would be a bad option. It is simply to say that fans should not act like he is a guaranteed home run as he would be just as risky as any of the other options on this list.
But at the end of the day, Harbaugh has been flirting with a return to the NFL for several years now and has ties to the Chargers organization. It is hard to find a job better than getting to be Justin Herbert's head coach, so if Harbaugh ever was serious about making the leap this finally may be the time.
1. Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
The most sought-after head coach candidate this offseason is undoubtedly going to be Ben Johnson. Johnson has helped turn the Detroit Lions offense around and was viewed by many to be a head coach candidate last offseason. However, Johnson wanted to finish what he started and the results this season have been exceptional.
Johnson's stock will be even higher than it was last offseason as the Lions are well on their way to winning the NFC North and could conceivably be one of the final four teams standing in the NFL Playoffs. Johnson's ability to get the most out of Jared Goff and unlock this offense is the driving force.
On paper, the Chargers would have a serious advantage over any other team looking for a new head coach. Coaching Justin Herbert and the Chargers seems a lot better than coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, or whatever other teams end up firing their head coach.
But the question becomes if the Chargers believe in Johnson and if they will be willing to pay him. While Johnson won't cost as much as Harbaugh, the Bolts are going to have to be competitive with his salary offer to beat out the other competing teams.
Brandon Staley reportedly makes $4 million a season, which is among the lowest head coach salaries in the NFL. The Chargers are going to have to be more enticing with Johnson's offer, although he won't cost in the $10-15 million range that Harbaugh would likely cost.