The Los Angeles Chargers spent most of the past decade figuring out how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The phrase “Chargering” was created to describe the phenomenon that started in San Diego and made its way to Los Angeles when the team arrived in 2017.
Many have strived to keep the tradition of “Chargering” alive and some of the key faces are no longer with the team. But one of the most prominent figures in Chargers football over the past few years has gotten a second chance, and it happens to be with a dreadful team in a desperate situation.
Former Failed Chargers Coaches Reunite to Fix Saints Defense
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New Orleans Saints are hiring former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as their defensive coordinator. The hire reunites Staley with former Los Angeles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as he takes over as head coach in New Orleans.
The #Saints are hiring former #Chargers coach Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator for coach Kellen Moore, per The Insiders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2025
Staley was an assistant this year with the #49ers, and before LAC, he burst onto the scene as a #Rams DC. Now, lands in NO. pic.twitter.com/ytNtbTMdzm
Staley spent three seasons with the Chargers after being hired in 2021. The 41-year-old got off to a solid start with a 9-8 record in his first season and led the Chargers to the playoffs with a 10-7 record in his second season.
But Staley’s team set a NFL record by blowing a 27-point lead in the second half of a 31-30 wild card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and he never recovered as the Chargers went 5-9 with Staley as head coach and Moore as their offensive coordinator before Staley’s dismissal in 2023. Staley went on to become an assistant on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the San Francisco 49ers and Moore became the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl earlier this month.
The championship led Moore to his first head coaching opportunity and bringing Staley along should help. But that dream is taking place in a nightmare scenario as the Saints ranked 19th in scoring defense and allowed the fourth-highest yards per play average at 5.8 last season. New Orleans also has limited resources to improve the group, sitting $47.1 million over the salary cap heading into free agency.
The Saints will have to do some financial gymnastics to find a way to add to the roster and Staley and Moore already had one disastrous tenure together in Los Angeles. While Staley is grateful for the second chance, it could be one of his last as he looks to rehab his career with a successful stint in New Orleans.