Tag: Dean Spanos

Instant analysis of Chargers firing Brandon Staley, Tom Telesco

What the firing of Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco means for the Chargers.

After a record-setting 63-21 loss to the Antonio Pierce and Aidan O’Connell-led Raiders on Thursday night, Los Angeles announced Friday that Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco had been fired. The interim head coach and general manager are expected to be announced Friday afternoon.

Staley finishes with a 24-24 record as Los Angeles’ head coach, and his tenure will be defined by the way the Chargers performed in big games. A timeout in a Week 18 contest against the Raiders in 2021 allowed Las Vegas more time to kick a game-winning field goal, knocking the Chargers out of playoff contention. Los Angeles made the postseason the following year, opening a 27-0 lead over the Jaguars before falling victim to one of the worst playoff collapses of all time. It seemed like they never shook the funk that loss put them in, and a 5-9 record through Week 15 was bad enough to force the franchise to fire a coach midseason for the first time since Kevin Gilbride was let go in 1998.

A former defensive coordinator with the Rams, Staley was hired as one of the brightest young minds in the game, a reversal of the conservative Anthony Lynn era. Staley’s first season on the job was marked by fourth-down discourse, as Staley continuously was one of the most aggressive coaches in the league in those situations. It paid dividends for Los Angeles, whose defense was 29th in points allowed in 2021.

With money to burn entering 2022, the Chargers brought in a number of players with ties to Staley to try to fix their defensive issues. Sebastian Joseph-Day got a hefty contract. Los Angeles traded a second-round pick for Khalil Mack. J.C. Jackson signed a massive deal to emulate Jalen Ramsey’s role with the Rams when Staley was defensive coordinator. The defense improved in points allowed but was the worst in the history of the league at stopping the run. Jackson had ankle surgery before the season and then tore his patellar tendon.

Entering 2023, the Chargers kept most things the same on defense. Jackson played poorly and then refused to enter a game after he was benched, resulting in his release. Joseph-Day and new linebacker Eric Kendricks have not played up to their name value. Young players have not developed. On the offensive side of the ball, optimism abounded about coordinator Kellen Moore, only for players to either regress or get injured as well.

That all brings us to Friday, the end of Staley’s tenure. A defensive head coach who had individual games of greatness (see: 2022 Miami), but never a season of even above-average play after adding players familiar with his system. An aggressive head coach who got less aggressive as his tenure went on.

For Telesco, the firing marks the end of a decade-long run as Chargers general manager. Hired in 2013 after serving as the Colts’ vice president of football operations, Telesco was the youngest general manager hire in Chargers history, promising to build the team through the draft and supplement the roster with free agent additions.

Building through the draft never quite worked for this regime. Keenan Allen, a third-round pick in Telesco’s first season, set a positive tone. But Telesco missed on D.J. Fluker, Jason Verrett, Jerry Tillery and Kenneth Murray in the first round and failed to find the same level of contribution in the middle and late rounds as other teams around the league. When those players did pan out, like Drue Tranquill, Kyzir White or Hunter Henry, they were allowed to hit free agency.

General managers rarely get four swings at head coaching hires. Telesco began his tenure with Mike McCoy, then moved on to Anthony Lynn. His final swing was Brandon Staley.

The Chargers will now make over their leadership team heading into a season in which they are $42 million over the salary cap with big decisions to make about every player outside Justin Herbert and Rashawn Slater.

Report: Chargers ‘strongly considering’ keeping HC Brandon Staley

Despite all the speculations, Brandon Staley’s job status with the Chargers is likely safe.

After their collapse to the Jaguars, the talk surrounding the Chargers has been whether or not head coach Brandon Staley will be back next season.

Despite all the speculations, Staley’s job status is likely safe.

According to The Score’s Jordan Schultz, Los Angeles is strongly considering keeping Staley. Staley is expected to meet with ownership in the near future, and internal talks are ongoing.

Staley has been scrutinized for his decision to play the team’s starters in Week 18 against the Broncos, which resulted in wide receiver Mike Williams injuring his back, keeping him out of the playoff game against Jacksonville.

Then, there was the implosion on Saturday night.

The front office’s argument for keeping Staley could be that despite blowing the third-largest lead in NFL postseason history, he improved from 9-8 in his first season to 10-7 and took the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time since 2018, all while dealing with a handful of injuries to key players.

In Schultz’s report, he added that there is a chance Staley will have to make significant staff changes.

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has been under fire for his system not being tailored to quarterback Justin Herbert’s strengths. Despite having immense arm talent and strength, Herbert has been relegated to quick and underneath throws most of the time.

We now wait for the official decision.

Chargers players vouch for Brandon Staley following loss to Jaguars

Chargers players showed their support for head coach Brandon Staley, who is currently under fire.

Following the third-largest collapse in NFL postseason history from a 27-0 lead to a 31-30 loss to the Jaguars in the Wild Card round, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley’s job status is not entirely secure.

Staley made some questionable decisions, including playing his starters for most of a meaningless game against the Broncos in Week 18. It resulted in wide receiver Mike Williams injuring his back and unable to play.

Then, Staley endured the playoff meltdown in Jacksonville.

Despite the many analysts and fans that think Staley could get the boot, players of the team are fully supportive of him and believe that he should remain as Los Angeles’ head coach, including quarterback Justin Herbert.

“Everyone would be lucky to have a coach like Staley. He’s been an incredible leader and has the respect of everyone on our team,” Herbert said. “He’s genuine, he’s himself and has been the same person for the past two years.

Herbert added that he has complete trust in the Chargers’ coaching staff and front office.

Staley has a 19-16 record, including the playoffs, in his two seasons. He led the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2018, despite dealing with a slew of injuries to key players, including edge defender Joey Bosa, who missed 12 games with a groin injury.

“I really do trust these coaches. He’s a fresh head coach in this league. To expect he’s going to know everything right away is kind of silly,” Bosa said. “I think we need to just keep building. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

The Chargers’ first-half efforts were near perfection, as they committed five turnovers and scored 27 points. But they struggled to match the Jaguars’ halftime adjustments in all phases.

Despite the second-half meltdown, star safety Derwin James says he 100% believes in the coaching staff.

“I don’t feel like it happens overnight,” James said. “I feel like what we built here and what we’ve continued to build every day it’s something special. And that first half definitely showed that.”

James added that he’s open to using his voice to make his case for Staley to return.

“That’s my guy. I feel like he’s put a lot into it, and a lot of the guys in the locker room believe in him. I definitely believe in him and we’re gonna get it right.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter doesn’t expect Chargers to pursue Sean Payton

ESPN’s Adam Schefter doesn’t expect the Chargers to pursue Sean Payton. The foremost NFL splash reporter doesn’t believe L.A. will do what’s needed to chase him:

Here’s a splash of cold water from Adam Schefter. ESPN’s foremost Sunday morning splash reporter addressed the elephant in the room following the Los Angeles Chargers’ stunning playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night — with former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton having made no secret of his interest in their head coach job over the last year, it’s been widely expected that the Chargers would dismiss second-year coach Brandon Staley and pursuit the Super Bowl XLIV winner.

But Schefter suggested that Chargers ownership isn’t willing to spend what it would take to recruit Payton.

“It’s hard to see this franchise, with its history, being as aggressive as it would need to be to go get Sean Payton, as much he might be able to help that franchise,” Schefter said Sunday. “I don’t know how realistic that is.”

The team is owned by the unpopular Spanos family, who abandoned an established fanbase in San Diego to relocate their franchise to Los Angeles in a cost-saving move, partnering with the Rams in building SoFi Stadium. Staley is one of the lowest-paid head coaches around the league at about $4 million per year, and the Chargers are one of the few teams to still bicker with drafted rookies over contract language after recent collective bargaining agreements made such signings a paint-by-numbers process.

In other words, the Chargers are too tightfisted to pay Payton like one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches at around $20 million per year. That’s in addition to the draft capital going to New Orleans in a potential trade for Payton’s coaching rights. So, based off what Schefter is hearing and looking at their past decisions, it doesn’t look like Chargers management will act as aggressively to pursue Payton as everyone from their team’s fans to maybe Payton himself hope them to.

Instead, Schefter says, expect the Chargers to make some minor coaching staff changes like hiring a new coordinator or two and shuffling the position coaches. That might be enough to get them back to the playoffs in 2023 but it’s hardly the blockbuster upgrade many observers are looking for.

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The day after: Final takeaways from Chargers’ victory over Colts

Recapping the Chargers’ win over the Colts on Monday night.

The Chargers defeated the Colts on Monday night to clinch their spot in the playoffs.

Here are my final takeaways from the Week 16 win.

Watch: Chargers’ Brandon Staley gives game ball to Dean Spanos

Following the Chargers’ victory over the Colts, Brandon Staley didn’t give the game ball to one of the players or coaches.

Following the Chargers’ playoff-clinching victory over the Colts, head coach Brandon Staley did not give the game ball to one of the players or coaches.

Instead, he gave it to owner Dean Spanos.

“I’ve got one game ball here,” Staley said in his post-game speech in the locker room. “We’re a team run by a family. None of us would be here if it weren’t for a special someone.

“I’ve been hoping to give him a game ball since I got here. I’ve been hoping,” Staley added. ‘He’s been patient. He’s invested in this team. He’s brought all of us together. Look around, guys; we’re all here because of him. Game ball…playoff appearance…Dean Spanos.”

Spanos did not say much, adding how proud he is of the team and wants them to end the season on a high note ahead of the playoffs.

The Chargers will be heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. This marks Staley and quarterback Justin Herbert’s postseason debut.

Sean Payton linked to Chargers as potential head coach

By all accounts, Sean Payton wants to coach the Chargers.

By all accounts, Sean Payton wants to coach the Chargers.

Rumors have been swirling for weeks about the link between Payton and Los Angeles. But an ESPN article released on Wednesday has accelerated the rumblings, going as far as to say that Payton “circling around the Chargers” is one of the league’s “worst-kept secrets.”

The article, written by Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, suggests that Brandon Staley could be on the hot seat if the Bolts miss the playoffs. Currently, at 5-5, L.A. is one game out of the playoff picture with two games against AFC playoff teams still on the schedule.

This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise: Staley was hired as a defensive head coach, and his defense has not performed to expectations. He seems to have erred on his offensive coordinator hire and has changed his ideology on fourth down.

As for Payton, Graziano and Fowler floated the possibility that the former Saints coach would “wait that one out,” suggesting that if Staley isn’t fired after this season, Payton would take another year off and monitor the situation.

The reasoning is fairly simple: the Chargers have, by far, the most talent of any team whose coaching job might come open. That starts with Justin Herbert, and Graziano says in the article that he has the “sense” that Payton will want a job with a stable quarterback situation.

Again, this makes sense: Payton just retired to avoid a tenuous quarterback situation in New Orleans. His possible return to coaching seems to be more about winning rings than finding the next generation’s superstar signal-caller.

Of note, Graziano and Fowler also mentioned the Cardinals as a possible Payton destination. Arizona is 4-7, seem to have terrible team chemistry, and Kliff Kingsbury’s job has been subject to the rumor. This could make Sunday’s matchup with Arizona a “Payton Bowl” of sorts.

The key thing to remember here is that any team that wants to hire Payton will need to compensate both him and the Saints, who still hold his rights under his contract. Since Payton retired and was not fired, he technically has to be traded to any new team he’d like to coach for. What that trade looks like is unclear, but many around the league believe the asking price will be around a first-round pick. This brings us to the key question about Payton and the Chargers: would the Spanos family be willing to pay up?

Ultimately, I think yes. The Spanoses are cheap, we know this. But they’re also businessmen. The writing on the wall is clear: hiring Payton gives the team a real chance to gain a sizable foothold in L.A., especially with the Rams on the decline with rumors of Sean McVay and Aaron Donald retiring. It’s a huge opportunity to make back the money and assets you’d spend on hiring Payton.

If you think that the Chargers should avoid paying such assets, Graziano and Fowler also mention former Colts head coach Frank Reich, 49ers defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, among others, as candidates generating real buzz.

Eric Weddle has words for Chargers following Super Bowl victory with Rams

Eric Weddle used the release from the Chargers as motivation.

Eric Weddle capped his career with something he had not achieved: a Super Bowl win.

Weddle had not played a snap of football for two years after retiring in February of 2020. However, he came out of retirement this postseason to fill in for an injury-riddled Rams secondary.

Weddle, who started in the final two games of the postseason, recorded five tackles in the Super Bowl while playing through a torn pec that he sustained in the first quarter.

When thanking all the teams he played for during his 13-year career, Weddle mentioned Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, feeling disrespected but motivated when the team didn’t re-sign him after the 2015 season.

“I want to thank the Chargers for drafting me and I also want to thank old Tom Telesco for the way things ended there, and showing me the light, and giving me that motivation and that fire,” Weddle said.

“The way things ended there, I appreciated that and I always said that Eric Weddle will get the last laugh, and I’m a world champion right now.”

During nine seasons with the Bolts, Weddle was featured in three Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro selections. He racked up 847 tackles and 19 interceptions and scored four defensive touchdowns.

Despite the accolades and production, the writing was on the wall with the Chargers’ feelings towards him in his final season.

Weddle was fined $10,000 for watching his daughter perform at halftime of a game, then placed on injured reserve before the end of the season, preventing him from playing in what would be his final game with the teams.

Weddle went on to join the Ravens in 2016. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons. In 2019, Weddle was released and signed a deal with the Rams.

Now with a Super Bowl ring and still despise towards the team that drafted him, Weddle confirmed postgame that he’s heading back into retirement.

Chargers announce new headquarters, training facility

The Los Angeles Chargers have announced plans to build new team headquarters and a training facility in El Segundo.

The Chargers announced plans for a new headquarters and a training facility in El Segundo, CA, on Monday.

The headquarters and facility, which will take up 14 acres, will be located south of El Segundo Boulevard and just east of Pacific Coast Highway on Nash Street – less than three miles from Los Angeles International Airport and seven miles from SoFi Stadium.

The headquarters will include a roof-top hospitality club, total eSports gaming, and content studios and a 3,100 square foot media center.

“When our staff and I first started here, we talked a lot about possibility,” head coach Brandon Staley said. “You could just see it coming. The possibility of this team. The possibility of LA.

“The goal is for the Chargers to become the standard of excellence in the NFL. This new facility demonstrates our organization’s commitment to that standard.”

It is estimated to be completed by the spring of 2024.

The Bolts arrived in Los Angeles in 2017, and Hoag Performance Center has served as the team’s facility since then.

The designs can be found below:

Chargers owner Dean Spanos’ sister attempting to force sale

A petition was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court to force a sale of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos’ sister, Dea Spanos Berberian, has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Court asking a judge to force a sale of the team.

Berberian’s argument is that “mounting debt has imperiled the family’s finances and the only solution is to put the NFL franchise on the market.”

Berberian alleges the trust’s debts and expenses exceed $353 million.

“Every day that passes increases the risks that the charitable beneficiaries and the Spanos family legacy will suffer irreparable financial and reputational damage,” if the team isn’t sold, the petition reads.

According to the court filing, this has been going on behind the scenes for quite awhile. Spanos told his siblings in a 2019 letter that he would retain an investment bank at the end of the 2024 season to help sell the team.

However, Berberian is attempting to force a move sooner than that.

In a statement posted on the team’s website attributed to Dean, Alexis Spanos Ruhl and Michael Spanos, the three siblings said they will keep the team in the family, adding they are confident it’s not going to happen.

Our parents, Alex and Faye, wanted the Chargers to be part of the Spanos Family for generations to come,” the statement said. “For the three of us the Chargers is one of our family’s most important legacies, just as it was for our parents. Unfortunately, our sister Dea seems to have a different and misguided personal agenda. If Dea no longer wishes to be part of this family legacy, the three of us stand ready to purchase her share of the franchise, as our agreements give us the right to do. In the meanwhile, the operations of the Chargers will be entirely unaffected by this matter, which relates only to the 36 percent share of the team that was owned by our parents. The three of us are entitled to three-fourths of that 36 percent share in any event, and under no circumstances will this situation impact control of the franchise. The three of us will remain firmly united as we seek to fulfill our parents’ wishes to make every decision in the best interests of the Los Angeles Chargers.