Brandon Staley entered the 2023 season with something to prove as his team was coming off a blown 27-0 lead in the playoffs the year prior. With that loss firmly in the rear-view mirror, Staley entered the 2023 season with his seat as hot as possible.
It has been an up-and-down 2023 season for the Chargers with fans calling for a head coaching change for most of the year. After Week 11's loss to the Green Bay Packers, it feels like a guarantee that the Chargers will be looking for a new head coach after the season.
The Chargers have just a 14% chance of making the playoffs, per the NY Times, and that is Staley's only path to keeping his job. With that in mind, it is time to dive into the candidates to replace him, ranked from the least to most likely.
On the outside of the Chargers' coaching search:
- Kellen Moore, Chargers OC
- Brian Johnson, Eagles OC
- Lou Anarumo, Bengals DC
Kellen Moore is the name that instantly jumps off the page considering he is already with the team. Many fans would consider Moore a favorite to jump in as head coach, especially considering he may get head coaching looks elsewhere.
While there is obviously still a chance, the fact that the Chargers haven't moved on from Staley yet to give Moore a run as interim head coach might be revealing. If the Spanos family really thought Moore could be the next head coach then the move would have been made after this Packers game.
Brian Johnson is a sleeper candidate if the Chargers miss out on the premier offensive coaching candidates. Lou Anarumo is a hot name for the coaching cycle but the Bolts may not want to hire another defensive-minded coach with zero head coaching experience.