Chargers fire HC Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco after shambolic 63-21 defeat by Raiders

This is the first time since 1998 that a Chargers' head coach has been fired mid-season.

Chargers fire HC Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco after shambolic 63-21 defeat by Raiders

Brandon Staley, Dean Spanos and Tom Telesco (Via Yahoo Sports/ESPN/Last Word on Sports)

It happened! After the brutal loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, where the team couldn’t score until the third quarter, the Los Angeles Chargers‘ owner Dean Spanos fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. This is the first time since 1998 that a Chargers’ head coach has been fired mid-season.

The interim head coach and general manager are yet to be released, as per the team’s official release. After three seasons with the Chargers, Staley has parted ways with a 24-24 record. While Telesco had spent 11 years with the franchise as the general manager.

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The rumors of Staley getting fired began last season, after the historic loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the postseason. However, the franchise decided to give him a second chance and it all crushed down when the Chargers 5-9 standings at the very bottom of the AFC West. And after the bizarre loss to the Raiders, it seemed Spanos had it all.

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According to the official press release by the Chargers:

We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need new vision. Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they've earned more.
Los Angeles Chargers’ official press release

Previously, whenever Staley was asked about his position as the head coach under threat, he would always be confident. However, when asked after the Thursday Night Football Game, when the team remained scoreless till halftime while the opponent took the 42-0 lead, Staley said nothing, but “I don’t know.”

Where did HC Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco go wrong?

Staley’s style of coaching never truly worked for the Chargers. He was, in fact, a poster boy for the NFL analytical revolution, as he often went after first downs and touchdowns instead of punts and field goals. However, this decision always backfired on him as it has contributed to some of the biggest losses of the team throughout Staley’s tenure.

Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley with team
Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley with team (Via Los Angeles Times)

One such crucial game was the de facto AFC West title game back in 2021 when the Chargers faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the game, the team lost in overtime after turning the ball over on downs three times back to back, inside the 30-yard line of the opponent.

In GM Telesco’s tenure, the Chargers made two divisional-round appearances, in 2013 and 2018, led by quarterback Philip Rivers. Although the team couldn’t achieve much success in the postseason, Telesco did put together rosters, which many analysts consider good enough to win the AFC West.

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