
Los Angeles Chargers Roster
- AFC West
- Stadium
- SoFi Stadium
- Head Coach
- Brandon Staley
- Offensive Coordinator
- Joe Lombardi
- Defensive Coordinator
- Special Teams Coach
- George Stewart
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Long-time San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers announced his retirement from football on Wednesday. Rivers went to the Chargers in a draft-day trade in 2004 and played for the Bolts for 16 seasons before spending his 17th and final NFL season with the Colts. He played in 244 games, starting the final 240 without missing a game, the second-longest streak by an NFL QB behind Brett Favre's 297. The 39-year-old finishes his career ranked fifth all-time with 63,440 passing yards and 421 touchdown passes. "I can sit here and say, 'I can still throw it. I love to play,'" Rivers said. "But that's always going to be there. I'm excited to go coach high school football." The future Hall of Famer topped 4,000 passing yards for the eighth straight season in 2020 and 12th time in his career.
The Los Angeles Chargers hired Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their next head coach on Sunday, according to sources. The 38-year-old spent just one year with the Rams after leading the league's No. 1 defense in scoring, total defense and pass defense in the 2020 regular season. Rams defenders had career-best seasons in sacks under Staley, including Leonard Floyd (10.5), Morgan Cox (six) and Troy Reeder (three), with Michael Brockers recording the second-most sacks in his career. Staley spent three seasons as the linebackers coach in Denver and Chicago before joining the Rams as their defensive coordinator. Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell could follow Staley to the Bolts in the same role, but Rams head coach Sean McVay would have to let O'Connell out of his contract.
Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley saw his season come to an end Saturday following a defeat to the Packers in the NFC Divisional Round. Now, he will interview with the Chargers for their vacant head-coaching position Sunday, before meeting with the Eagles for a chance at the same role Monday. Staley has been a fast riser in NFL ranks, having been the defensive coordinator at Division III John Carroll University as recently as 2016. This past season, he oversaw a Rams Defense that allowed a league-best 281.9 yards per game, while ranking second in the league with 53 sacks. Both Los Angeles and Philadelphia have accrued considerable interest in their job openings, but Staley will be a name to watch in the coming days.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has emerged as a favorite to land the Los Angeles Chargers head-coaching job, according to league sources. He is one of nine candidates to have interviewed for the job. If the Bills lose their Divisional Round game against the Ravens on Saturday night, Daboll can meet with the Chargers whenever he wants and accept the job if it's offered to him. If Buffalo wins, the Chargers must wait. He's an offensive-minded coach and has learned from some of the best coaches in the game while helping quarterback Josh Allen improve. Daboll also went to high school with Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, and the two played on the same high school football team.
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James (knee) missed all of the 2020 season and played in just five games in 2019 after he was named a first-team All-Pro in his rookie year in 2018. But James is as hungry as ever to get back on the field and play in 2021. "I think I'm about to starve, how hungry I am," James said. "I can't even lie to you. I feel like I just need to eat something. I'm hungry." When healthy, he's a ballhawk that flies all over the field, and he could take the Chargers Defense to the next level if he can stay on the field next season. The 24-year-old has missed 27 games in the last two seasons, but he could be an every-week starter at defensive back for those in IDP leagues if he can avoid the injury bug in 2021. The Florida State product had season-ending knee surgery in September but should be ready to go for training camp this summer.