Three Chargers HC candidates should Brandon Staley get fired

The Los Angeles Chargers (6-6) are underachieving under Brandon Staley, whom ESPN recently suggested could be on the hot seat.

In an analysis published by Yahoo! Sports on Monday, NFL columnist Charles McDonald questioned whether Staley should coach the team for a third season. 

He pointed out the team’s lackluster defense, which has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and ninth-most total yards as the main reason for Los Angeles’ middling performance. 

"Staley was known for being a transformative defensive play-caller for the Los Angeles Rams, building a defense that was unusually stout against the run despite not keeping many defenders in the box," he wrote. "Now, it seems like he was the beneficiary of having Aaron Donald and peak Jalen Ramsey in his lineup. It’s much easier to keep five in the box when one of those five is the greatest defensive tackle in the game's history."

If Staley were fired, here are three candidates whom the Chargers could target. 

Sean Payton

Payton’s name has been tossed around for several months in connection to the Bolts. He’d be the first head coach in the team’s history to have previously led a team to a Super Bowl title. Payton won a championship in 2009 with the Saints. He’s an experienced tactician who worked with quarterback Drew Brees during the best seasons of his career. Bolts QB Justin Herbert would be a perfect new partner for Payton. 

Brian Flores

Flores, a defensive assistant with the Steelers, is suing the NFL for alleged unfair hiring practices by the league’s 32 teams. He’s a defensive whiz, serving as defensive coordinator when the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII, and could fix the Chargers' lackluster defense. 

Frank Reich

Reich was fired by the Indianapolis Colts earlier this season after a 3-5-1 start, but he coached well before 2022. From 2018-21, the Colts went 37-28 under Reich. He served as Chargers offensive coordinator in 2014-15.  A former QB, Reich would probably mesh with Herbert.