The Chargers caught many by surprise with the hiring of former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their new head coach.
A lot of people believed that it was Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s job to lose after being favored, but Los Angeles elected to go with someone of a defensive mindset.
Now that L.A. didn’t choose to hire someone like Daboll, who was capable of maximizing quarterback Justin Herbert’s potential, the attention turns to who that might be in position to serve as the offensive coordinator.
This past season, it was the Bolts’ offensive coordinator Shane Steichen who held the position. Steichen is still under contract, and it’s possible that the team preferred to hire a defensive coach so they could keep him in the fold.
Another option was the other person who aided in Herbert’s phenomenal rookie season, quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton. Like Steichen, Hamilton is being explored as an offensive coordinator candidate by other teams, but he has the experience and knowledge to thrive in that spot, if promoted.
When looking at external options, the two coaches who could draw attention are Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell and running backs coach Thomas Brown, both of whom have been highly endorsed by head coach Sean McVay as developers of young talent.
Like Staley, O’Connell joined the Rams before the 2020 season. Prior to that, spent three seasons with The Football Team, working his way up from quarterbacks coach in 2017 to offensive coordinator in 2019.
While O’Connell wasn’t the one calling the plays, Sean McVay was, he knows a lot about the quarterback position, having been around it his entire career.
Familiarity is everything when filling out a staff.
Other offensive coaches Staley has coached with who could be candidates include Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron, Broncos quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, Jets OC Dowell Loggains, former Bears OC Mark Helfrich, Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone.