Chargers president of football operations and son of owner Dean Spanos, John Spanos, spoke for the first time since the firings of Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco.
“I think sometimes it’s maybe the misses that help you grow the most — that you can learn from the most,” Spanos said, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “And I think we always have to be pushing ourselves as an ownership to get better, to be better.”
Spanos said the team will have “no limitations” on the search for its next head coach and general manager.
Spanos dispelled the narrative that the organization is unwilling to spend money on coaches and executives.
“Going into this search, everything is a possibility,” Spanos said, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. “I can tell you that there have been no discussions internally about there being a max. We’re always going to do what’s in the best interest of the team.”
Spanos hired Telesco in 2013 and over those 11 seasons, the club brought in three head coaches: Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley. The one thing they had in common was that they had no prior experience as head coaches, college or professional.
That could be different this time around, as Spanos said experience could be a factor in the coaching search.
“I don’t think it can be the end-all, but absolutely it will factor. That’s an added bonus if someone does have previous head coach experience,” Spanos said, per the Associated Press’ Joe Reedy.
The Bolts have appeared in the playoffs just three times over the past ten years, have not won the AFC West division since 2009, and last made the AFC championship game following the 2007 season.
“My opinion is everything starts with ownership. Ultimately, we’re responsible for everything. What we’ve been doing has not been good enough,” Spanos said.
Staley was at the helm for a multitude of in-game meltdowns, including the 27-point blown loss to the Jaguars in the playoffs last year. Despite many calling for Staley to be fired afterward, it was not in consideration.
“As disappointing as that (playoff) game was, I looked at the whole body of work and where we were. Despite the way it ended, the trajectory at that point was still going up,” Spanos said. “So I didn’t feel a change then was in the best interest of the team.”
Now, as the organization begins its search for the next general manager and head coach, there is one priority when factoring in whoever they bring in.
“Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal,” Spanos said, “and every decision we make is with that in mind.”