Failed Chargers Coach on Verge of Getting Second Chance

The Los Angeles Chargers went back to their winning ways under head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2024. The season prior was a complete disaster under Brandon Staley, which resulted in him getting fired after Week 15 following an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Raiders. After struggling in his first head coaching tenure, Staley spent last season with the 49ers as an assistant head coach.

Now, he is in line to get a big chance with the New Orleans Saints. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Staley is a "serious candidate" for the defensive coordinator opening in New Orleans.

Brandon Staley Could Reunite With Kellen Moore in New Orleans

This would reunite Staley with Kellen Moore, who was just hired as the Saints head coach. The duo worked together in Los Angeles when Moore was Staley's offensive coordinator for the 2023 season. After one season with the Chargers, Moore was hired as the Eagles offensive coordinator and won a Super Bowl in his first year there.

Now, Moore is building out his coaching staff and considering his former head coach as an option to lead the defense. Staley was a defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 when they had the best defense in the league, both in terms of scoring and yards.

The Saints are coming off a fourth consecutive season of missing the playoffs. Dennis Allen was fired midseason, and defensive coordinator Joe Woods wasn't retained after the season. Moore has a big challenge ahead of him trying to get this team back to respectability. Trusting a familiar face like Staley to help him in that process certainly makes some sense.

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