Brandon Staley, the former defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, is headed back to the NFC West. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers have added him to their coaching staff. Although Schefter refers to Staley’s position as “a prominent staff role,” it is unclear exactly what that role entails. It might be that Staley assists Kyle Shanahan as head coach. Staley only spent one season (2020) with the Rams, but he made the most of it. Along the way to a 10-6 record and a Divisional Round berth that season, the Rams led the league in total and scoring defense. Under Staley’s direction, defensive end Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were both selected to the first team of the All-Pro team.
After that performance, Staley became a sought-after candidate for head coach in the upcoming offseason. In January of 2021, he was hired to take over as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, so he didn’t have to look far for his next chance. Sadly, he never achieved the same level of success as a head coach as he did as a coordinator. With a 24–24 record at the end of his tenure, Staley was the Chargers’ head coach for less than three years. Staley faced repeated criticism for making dubious in-game choices for his whole career, including time management, going for it on fourth down, and pretty much everything in between. Even Staley’s lone postseason trip in 2022 was a bust, as the Chargers lost 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round after blowing a 27-0 lead. Following a 63–21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers dismissed general manager Tom Telesco and star player Staley on December 15. Associated: Rams Coach McVay and General Manager Snead “Believe in Being Aggressive” After his terrible time with the Chargers, Staley could really utilize this opportunity to turn his career around by joining the 49ers.
