The ex-head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers may be on his way to join the Super Bowl contenders this year. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there is increasing speculation in the NFL that Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, is contemplating the idea of bringing in Staley. Staley, who previously won a Super Bowl as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, is being considered as a potential replacement for the recently fired defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks. Shanahan made the decision to dismiss Wilks just days after the 49ers’ surprising overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, who managed to come back from a 10-point deficit in the relatively uneventful first half of the game. Wilks had only been with the San Francisco team for one season, following his interim role as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers for much of 2022.
Despite Staley being recognized for his defensive expertise, the defenses under his leadership in Los Angeles consistently faced challenges. Throughout his three seasons as the head coach of the Chargers, he never managed to elevate the team’s defense beyond the 20th rank in the league. This was the case even with the presence of linebacker Khalil Mack, considered one of the outstanding defenders of his generation, who continued to perform at a Pro Bowl level during the last two seasons under Staley. It’s possible that Shanahan is exploring various options and wants to thoroughly consider all potential candidates for the position.
