Brandon Staley, who served as the Denver Broncos’ outside linebackers coach in 2019, will become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
After coaching in college football from 2006-2016, Staley got his first NFL job under Vic Fangio with the Chicago Bears in 2017. He then followed Fangio to Denver in 2019 and left to become the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2020.
“He’s got a great vast knowledge of the game, both currently and historical,” Fangio said on Dec. 16. “He stays up on all the latest schematic things and developments in the NFL both offensively and defensively. I just think he’s got a great football intelligence and obviously it’s helped them do a great job here with the Rams.”
Fangio noted that teams have been looking for the next Staley.
“Brandon was paid a good compliment: I had a call from a potential head coach for next season — called me and asked me if I have any more Brandon Staleys to come be his defensive coordinator,” Fangio said. “Brandon’s done well for himself, people notice it, and they’re calling me to see if I have another one for them.”
Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell described Staley as the “Sean McVay of defense.”
“I’ve been around for three decades coaching, and every once in a while, a young, bright guy who sees the game globally comes around,” Donatell said on Dec. 24. “This guy sees offense, defense and special teams, and he knows how they work. [He’s] mature beyond his years, and we have early evidence … we couldn’t be happier to see him out on his own and blooming like this in his coming out. He’s really taken advantage of the opportunity.”
When Staley was a positional coach, players in Denver could tell he was poised to go on to become a head coach.
“It’s funny because around Christmas time [in 2019], his wife asked us to sign a jersey for him and I wrote on the jersey that I can’t wait to see him become a head coach one day,” Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said on Jan. 1. “Just the energy he brought to the meetings and how he approaches different things, just the aura he had about himself and one of the best dudes I know personally. Nothing but great things to say about Coach Staley.”
Denver will now face Staley twice a year in the AFC West.
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