Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here is a running list of the head coaching and GM candidates the Chargers have requested to interview or have interviewed.
After parting ways with Brandon Staley during the 2023 regular season, Chargers owner Dean Spanos is in search of the new head coach.
Additionally, Spanos will be looking to fill the general manager void left by Tom Telesco, who was relieved of his duties after ten years in the role.
To keep you up to date with who they will be interviewing for the head coaching and general manager positions, we have created this tracker.
Jim Harbaugh remains the front runner.
Who is going to be the next Chargers head coach?
With the regular season ending in just a couple of days, oddsmakers still believe that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is going to be the successor to Brandon Staley at +150 odds, per BetOnline.ag.
This means a $100 bet would get you $150 if you bet on Harbaugh to be Los Angeles’ new head coach and he is hired.
Here are the rest of the potential candidates and their odds as of Jan. 5:
| Coach | Odds |
| Jim Harbaugh | +150 |
| Ben Johnson | +240 |
| Bill Belichick | +350 |
| Kellen Moore | +750 |
| Frank Smith | +1200 |
| Eric Bieniemy | +1200 |
| Bobby Slowik | +1200 |
| Lincoln Riley | +1600 |
| Dan Quinn | +1800 |
Examining who Dan Quinn is, where he comes from and why he’d be a good choice to be the head coach of the Chargers.
As the 2023 season comes to a close, the Chargers will head into the offseason head coach hiring cycle for the first time in three years. Unlike the 2021 process, they will also look for a new general manager to take control of the franchise’s football operations for the first time since 2013.
One candidate that has been floated around in several early reports is Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Quinn spent six seasons as head coach of the Falcons after meticulously crafting the “Legion of Boom” defense with the Seahawks. After Atlanta lost their first five games in 2020, Quinn was given the boot in a mid-season firing.
As mentioned earlier, Quinn has been with Dallas as DC under head coach Mike McCarthy for three seasons. From a results standpoint, the Cowboys got what they were asking for in a defensive upgrade. Dallas’ 2020 defense ranked 21st in EPA/play before the arrival of Quinn. Since 2021, the Cowboys’ defense has been at least top four in EPA/play every season. 3rd in 2021, 2nd in 2022 and 4th in 2023.
Suppose the Chargers wanted to go with a defensive-minded head coach. In that case, Quinn is easily the most qualified after having several great seasons as a defensive coordinator and a head coaching tenure that resulted in a Super Bowl run. From a resume standpoint, only someone like Bill Belichick could top his success as a defensive coach.
He has interviewed in two previous head coaching cycles since becoming Cowboys’ DC in 2021 but has withdrawn his name both times. Earlier this week, Quinn said, “I think it’s important to know how to compartmentalize,” in regards to finishing out the 2023 campaign with Dallas.
There’s been a buzz around the potential pairing of Quinn and Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. If LA didn’t want to overhaul the coaching staff completely, bringing Quinn on board could hint at a partnership with Moore. After all, they’ve already proven their synergy during their two years as coordinators in Dallas.
From Moore’s perspective, he probably didn’t get the boost in his resume that he was hoping for following the Chargers’ rocky season under Staley. But with Quinn’s hiring, Moore could get another shot to prove himself as a head coach candidate. And the best part? He wouldn’t have to overhaul the offensive system around Herbert. This could be a win-win situation for both parties.
Another speculation of Quinn building out a potential staff is Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris potentially coming with him. Harris could work as Quinn’s defensive coordinator or defensive backs coach. The skill in the development of several key Dallas defensive backs, like Trevon Diggs, Daron Bland, and others, would certainly be appealing for the Chargers as they rebuild their defense.
There’s a good reason why most would project an offensive-minded head coach to lead the organization, but defensive coordinators shouldn’t be ruled out entirely. Suppose the Chargers wanted to go with a defensive-minded head coach again. In that case, Quinn is easily the most qualified of that group, with several successful coordinator seasons and previous head coach experience.
The Chargers will begin the interview process soon.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Chargers are likely to hire their future general manager and head coach “simultaneously” in the process.
I’m told the expectation at this time for the #Chargers is that they’ll run their head coach & general manager searches simultaneously, per source.
Some early names surfacing around the HC vacancy at this preliminary stage include Dan Quinn, Eric Bienemy, Jim Harbaugh &…
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 2, 2024
The list of coaches is largely names that have been mentioned before. Jim Harbaugh’s name has picked up a lot of rumored traction over the weekend as Michigan’s postseason approaches a close. Bill Belichick has been at the top of Chargers’ odds lists since the firing of Brandon Staley. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is also a name that has been rumored to have a potential Kellen Moore connection since the middle of this season.
Washington offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is a new name in this specific coaching cycle for the Chargers’ job. However, there is some history between the two sides. Bieniemy played for the Chargers in the 1990s for four seasons. As the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator in 2021, he also interviewed for the Chargers’ vacancy, which eventually resulted in the hiring of Staley.
Regarding Belichick and Harbaugh, the notion that the Chargers intend to conduct the search simultaneously could be significant. Belichick has had both responsibilities in New England for years. Harbaugh has also been a program builder at Michigan. He may also demand more of a personnel control component as head coach, given the San Francisco power struggle with Trent Baalke that ended Harbaugh’s tenure with the 49ers.
President of Football Operations John Spanos and former GM Tom Telesco worked together in control of the Chargers’ personnel moves in conjunction with head coaches since 2013. A significant change in how the Spanos family has run the front office could be afoot if a coach like Harbaugh or Belichick does end up signing on the dotted line.
Who is the frontrunner according to the betting odds?
Who is going to be the next Chargers head coach?
While it’s still early, with three weeks left in the season, oddsmakers believe that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is going to be the successor to Brandon Staley at +200 odds, per BetOnline.ag.
This means a $100 bet would get you $200 if you bet on Harbaugh to be Los Angeles’ new head coach and he is hired.
Here are the rest of the potential candidates after Harbaugh and their odds:
| Coach | Odds |
| Bill Belichick | +300 |
| Ben Johnson | +400 |
| Kellen Moore | +500 |
| Frank Smith | +700 |
| Eric Bieniemy | +1200 |
| Bobby Slowik | +1200 |
| Lincoln Riley | +1600 |
| Ryan Day | +1600 |
| Dan Quinn | +1800 |
John Spanos spoke for the first time since the firings of Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco.
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.”
The Chargers weren’t done making changes when they let Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco go.
The Chargers weren’t done making changes when they let Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco go on Friday.
The team announced late Friday morning that defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers had also been relieved of his duties.
Rodgers was hired in 2021 as part of Staley’s inaugural coaching staff, working with the outside linebackers while coordinating the defensive run game. He moved to his more natural position of defensive line to begin the 2022 season.
While highly regarded in league circles, Rodgers struggled to get the defensive line to play up to their billing in three years in Los Angeles. The Chargers ranked 32nd in run defense in 2021 and 2022 but improved to 18th in 2023.
Assistant defensive line coach John Timu will likely take over the position coach duties for the final three weeks of the season.
Here are 12 candidates from around the league the Chargers could consider to replace Tom Telesco.
The Chargers ended the Tom Telesco era on Friday, firing their general manager after a decade in charge.
Here are 12 candidates from around the league they could consider as his replacement.
Here are 12 head coaching candidates for the Chargers to keep an eye on over the coming months.
The Chargers have cleaned house, firing head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.
With a star in Justin Herbert at quarterback, Los Angeles will be one of the most intriguing head coaching vacancies this offseason.
Here are 13 candidates to keep an eye on over the coming months.
The Chargers announced their new interim head coach and interim general manager on Friday afternoon.
Following their move to part ways with head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, the Chargers announced their new interim head coach and interim general manager on Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles declared outside linebackers coach Giff Smith as its interim head coach and Director of Player Personnel JoJo Wooden as its acting general manager.
Smith, who joined the Chargers in 2016, was in his second season as the team’s outside linebackers coach after spending six seasons coaching the defensive line. Before his time with the Bolts, he coached the defensive line for the Bills from 2010 to 2012 and the Titans from 2014 to 2015.
Wooden joined the Chargers in 2013 and oversaw the team’s pro and college scouting departments. Before joining Los Angeles, he spent 16 seasons with the Jets from 1997 to 2012, working his way up from pro personnel assistant to assistant director of player personnel in his last six seasons.
