A name for defensive coordinator is already being linked to the San Francisco 49ers. That name is former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who Mike Florio reports that "some" people in the league believe the 49ers will hire him.
Staley and Kyle Shanahan share the same agent, so that is where the link between the two lies. However, they have zero experience with each other aside from going against each other in 2020 when Staley was the Los Angele Rams defensive coordinator and last year as head coach of the Chargers.
Staley is a coach that the 49ers should absolutely stay away from. His tenure with the Chargers showed that he is not a coach that knows how to maximize the talent he has. Staley was the defensive play caller for the Chargers and every year they could not establish themselves as an adequate force. Rather, teams would relish in facing them.
Now, the pushback to that will be that he was the head coach. He had so much more on his plate, so maybe by relegating back to a defensive coordinator, he can hone in more to that and excel. The last time he was one he had the Rams top-five in practically every category from points per game, sacks, and yards allowed.
Assessing the job of Steve Wilks in the Super Bowl (8:23)
But that could also be viewed more as an outlier season for him. He couldn't come close to what he did with the Rams with the Chargers. In his debut season in 2021, the Chargers' defense had the fifth most points allowed per game and the 10th most yards per game. In 2022, they got stronger in points allowed, but became the fifth worst run defense in yards allowed per game.
2023 isn't even worth mentioning since he couldn't even finish the season. That is how abysmal he is. Another issue with him is his leadership. There isn't a leader in him, which is something every successful 49ers defensive coordinator has had. Staley seems like the kind of guy that the players will oust again like how they did with Steve Wilks.
Meaning, they will take some subtle shots at him about how the players didn't feel "prepared" or "ready" for certain looks/plays. At least Wilks had a seasoned demeanor from being in the NFL for so long. Staley hasn't even been in the league long enough to be called seasoned . He's been in it for six and a half seasons. The half stemming from him being fired midseason this past year.
You think the players are going to take a coach with that tenure and his resume seriously? I don’t. If the 49ers are going to hire someone from the outside again, then it must not be Staley. There is a reason no one has inquired about him when there were more vacant defensive coordinator positions, and for good reason.
Stay away from him at all costs.
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