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Chargers hire Rams DC Brandon Staley as next head coach

The Los Angeles Chargers have found Anthony Lynn’s replacement.

The Chargers are hiring Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their next head coach, they announced on Sunday night.

"It's hard to put into words just how excited I am for the opportunity to be the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach,” Staley said in a statement. "While this is certainly a dream come true, it's also a dream that's just beginning. There's a reason this was probably the most sought after job out there — from ownership, to the fans, to the city, to the men in that locker room — it's the total package.

“I can't thank the Spanos family and Tom Telesco enough for placing their faith in us, and by the time everyone is reading this quote in a press release, we'll already be hard at work developing a program Chargers fans everywhere can be proud of."

Brandon Staley staying in Los Angeles

Staley shined during his one season with the Rams as their defensive coordinator. The team led the league in allowing 281.9 yards and 190.7 passing yards per game under his watch, and yielded a league-low 18.5 points per game.

Staley spent two seasons with the Chicago Bears and one with the Denver Broncos as their linebackers coach before landing in Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old reportedly had other job interviews scheduled after his second interview with the Chargers — which he conducted last week before the Rams’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs on Saturday — but the Chargers “had no intention of letting him leave” Southern California.

"It's not just that Brandon possesses a tremendous football mind that makes him the ideal head coach to lead our team forward," general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. "It's that he excels in the ability to effectively tailor, apply and communicate his concepts to players. It's clear that Brandon will not be out-worked, he's the football equivalent of a gym rat, and that has earned him the universal respect of the players he has coached throughout his journey."

The Chargers fired Lynn last month after his fourth year despite a four-game win streak to finish the season. He went 33-31 over that time and made the postseason once.

Despite their struggles, the job is widely considered to be one of the best available thanks largely to rookie quarterback Justin Herbert.

After replacing Tyrod Taylor early in the season, Herbert racked up 4,336 passing yards and threw 31 touchdowns last season. The former Oregon standout, along with receiver Keenan Allen, running back Austin Ekeler and defensive end Joey Bosa, should give Staley plenty of weapons to work with.

With Staley headed to the Chargers, there are now three remaining head coaching jobs open in the league after Urban Meyer landed in Jacksonville, the Jets hired Robert Saleh and the Atlanta Falcons scooped up Arthur Smith. The Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles are still searching, as are the Detroit Lions — however the Lions are reportedly zeroing in on Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell.

Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is the Chargers' next head coach. (Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is the Chargers' next head coach. (Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

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