Chargers fire Brandon Staley, clean house: Best memes and tweets from NFL media, fans
It was inevitable. After losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 63-21 on Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Chargers had to fire head coach Brandon Staley.
But they went a step further, dumping Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on Friday as well.
The news wasn't a suprise given the Chargers 5-9 record and general underperformance despite a star quarterback and a roster that looked capable of making the playoffs.
we have parted ways with Head Coach Brandon Staley and General Manager Tom Telesco
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 15, 2023
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 15, 2023
"These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly," team owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. "...We are clearly not where we expect to be, howevr, and we need new vision."
Chargers fans would disagree with one part of that statement: It was an incredibly easy decision to make. And one that was met with raucous applause.
Best memes and tweets as Chargers fans and NFL media react to Brandon Staley firing
the Brandon Staley era is finally over in LA!!!!!
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) December 15, 2023
pic.twitter.com/9PXHEPimlC
I'm not even exaggerating -- this is the happiest I have been all season.
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) December 15, 2023
What is ultimately best for the future was for Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley to both be fired.
Dean Spanos finally pulled the plug.
Charger fans after firing Brandon Staley pic.twitter.com/ccFdesWA5G
— Splash and Furious 🐬 (@JoshuaClow) December 15, 2023
Brandon Staley’s Chargers’ tenure always will be remembered and defined by memorable moments from each of the past three seasons.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2023
🏈2021: Lost a Week 18 win-or-go-home game to Raiders.
🏈2022: Lost 31-30 to the Jaguars in the playoffs after being up 27-0.
🏈2023: Fired after… https://t.co/hYfkUL4pU2
The moment it was over for Brandon Staley pic.twitter.com/hed9wbmfTi
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 15, 2023
I'll always be grateful for Brandon Staley because he let us come up with this headline after the Jags playoff debacle last year pic.twitter.com/r0HkCcnbSG
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) December 15, 2023
Telesco and Staley should've both been let go after the JAX game. It was time to reset then. 2023 was a byproduct of not coming to that reality.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 15, 2023
Instead, both were allowed to dig deeper in the organization and get fewer results. Now we have to hope it's not far too late.
Tom Telesco has been with the Chargers since 2013. He hired three coaches (Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley). Each one started with two winning seasons and a playoff berth and each followed that up with two losing seasons, except for Staley. They had seen this movie.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) December 15, 2023
A lot of warranted heat on Staley. The firing of GM Tom Telesco is a big deal, too.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 15, 2023
LA has handed out tons of extensions -- Mike Williams, Michael Davis, JC Jackson, Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Corey Linsley, Sebastian Joseph-Day -- and haven't gotten bang for their buck at all.
Some fans wanted even more moves...
Do the deed, @chargers. pic.twitter.com/KRUY0zHNpW
— 🟡 🟣 Ivan 🇵🇸 (@day_breakerz) December 15, 2023
The Chargers have consistently struggled to get over the hump. Periods of success have not vaulted them into true Super Bowl contention. Meanwhile, their city rivals have won a Super Bowl in the last handful of years.
It didn't help that Staley, who was the Rams defensive coordinator the year before their Super Bowl run, couldn't get the Chargers defense out of the dumps.
Meanwhile, Herbert had the makings of an absolute superstar but faced criticism because he and the team around him seemed incapable of finishing.
Now, Spanos will have to identify a head coach and a GM who can take the solid pieces already tied to the franchise, like Herbert and Joey Bosa, and make them contenders.
Telesco became the general manager in 2013 when the team was still in San Diego. During his decade in charge, the Chargers made it to the postseason in three of 10 seasons, not including this one.
Staley, the third hire under Telesco, replaced Anthony Lynn in 2021.
Next. 3 head coaches to replace Brandon Staley. 3 head coaches to replace Brandon Staley. dark