Chargers coach Brandon Staley survived some of the most cringeworthy losses in recent franchise history, such as a 27-point blown lead against the Jaguars in the playoffs last year. But it took what was quite possibly the most embarrassing loss in franchise history, Thursday’s 63–21 smackdown in Las Vegas, including a 42-point halftime deficit and the most points scored in Raiders history, to create an official vacancy in Los Angeles.
Staley was fired Friday along with GM Tom Telesco, ending a tenure that began with much hype and promise but ended with the lot of us asking: What if?
Not necessarily, What if the Chargers hadn’t hired Brandon Staley? The other options in that coaching cycle were a mixed bag, with Urban Meyer, Dan Campbell, David Culley, Robert Saleh, Arthur Smith and Nick Sirianni after a very late firing of Doug Pederson (although the Chargers were also deeply interested in Giants coach Brian Daboll at the time as well). But, What if the Brandon Staley era were done differently?
