Los Angeles Chargers name Griff Smith interim head coach after Brandon Staley firing

The Chargers didn’t wait a full 24 hours before firing head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco after the team’s historic meltdown in Vegas. But in a surprise move, the team didn’t promote Kellen Moore to the interim job of leading the team.

Moore is the former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator and record-setting quarterback from Boise State. He and the Cowboys parted ways last January when coach Mike McCarthy decided to take over the offense. Within a day, the Chargers hired Moore. He does have hopes to be a head coach. In his last two seasons with the Cowboys, Moore interviewed for head coach openings with the Panthers, Dolphins, Broncos and Vikings.

Yet about an hour after the Chargers dumped the top two people in the organization, word leaked that the interim head coach will be Giff Smith, with the interim GM JoJo Wooden. Smith was the team’s outside linebackers coach. He’s worked with the Chargers since 2016 and also had been in charge of the defensive line.

Source: The #Chargers have named Giff Smith interim head coach and JoJo Wooden as interim GM.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2023

At the time, Moore’s move to LA made all sorts of sense. After all, the Chargers had reached the playoffs in 2022. They did blow a huge lead to the Jaguars. However, momentum felt like it was on the team’s side, especially with quarterback Justin Herbert.

But a season that started with such great hope cratered at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas on Thursday Night Football. The Raiders had scored zero points in their previous game. Yet they blew out the Chargers 63-21. The Raiders halftime lead was 42-0. The Chargers didn’t cross midfield until the third quarter.

Herbert, who at one point this year was the highest paid player in the NFL, watched it all from the sidelines. He underwent season-ending finger surgery last week, with Easton Stick taking over as QB1. Defensive star Joey Bosa also missed the game as did receiver Keenan Allen.

The Chargers offense dropped from 10th in the NFL in total yardage last year to 17th. And as the Chargers floundered, the Cowboys flourished. Dallas is in contention for the top seed in the NFC playoffs and quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the favorites for NFL MVP.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos issued a statement to the media confirming the firings of Staley, who was heavy into coaching analytics, and Telesco.

“These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly — especially when you consider the number of people they impact,” Spanos said. “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. Building and maintaining a championship-caliber program remains our ultimate goal. And reimagining how we achieve that goal begins today.”