Former HC Anthony Lynn takes shot at Chargers

Following the Los Angeles Chargers' unfathomable wild-card game collapse, former head coach Anthony Lynn chimed in, taking a veiled shot at his old team. 

Lynn hinted to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times that the San Francisco 49ers, where he serves as running backs coach, go the extra mile when trying to put a winning football team on the field, unlikely his former home. 

"This organization will do whatever it takes to win," Lynn said. "That was different for me compared to what I was going through in L.A. So, it's just like, man, this is what it's supposed to be like. I forgot how that felt." 

Lynn coached the Chargers for four seasons, from 2017 to 2020, going 33-31 in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason. 

Lynn's time with the Chargers started well enough, posting winning seasons in his first two seasons leading the team, including a 12-4 finish and a playoff berth in 2018. However, things declined quickly for Lynn in L.A. as the critiques over his decision-making grew louder. The Chargers went 12-20 over Lynn's final two seasons with the Chargers, and the team fired him following a 7-9 finish in 2020. 

The comments from Lynn about his former club could be sour grapes. After all, the Chargers fired him after he showed promise during a not-so-stable time for the organization. But recent history is on Lynn's side. 

Lynn's replacement, Brandon Staley, hasn't fared much better as the Chargers' headman. Staley has come under fire for many of the same reasons levied at Lynn. And despite having similar talent and expectations, in two seasons with Staley at the helm, the Chargers are 19-15 in the regular season and 0-1 in the postseason after last week's brutal loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

On Wednesday, the Chargers fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Staley is expected back as head coach. So, it appears Staley has survived the hot seat, for now.