Rams' Sean McVay reacts to Chargers firing Brandon Staley

Before Brandon Staley became head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, he served as defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay during the 2020 NFL season. 

McVay spoke with reporters on Friday hours after the Chargers confirmed they had parted ways with Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.

"You want to be there for your friend," McVay said about Staley, as shared by Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "And I also know what a great coach he is and what he’s meant to me, what I’ve learned from him. These are things that are really challenging, and I’ve grown up in the business and there’s a lot of tough things. But I know what a great coach he is. I know what I’ve seen from my own eyes and I know that he’s going to respond and he’s got a really bright future." 

It was reported earlier this week that Staley always had to guide the 2023 Chargers to at least a playoff berth to hold onto his job through the offseason. That was before his side suffered a humiliating 63-21 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night that dropped the Chargers to 5-9 and left little doubt that Staley had no long-term future with the team. 

In total, Staley accumulated a record of 24-24 in regular-season play during his Chargers tenure. His single postseason appearance ended with a collapse at the Jacksonville Jaguars this past January. 

"Does it make you better collectively as a staff if you lose people? No," McVay added about having assistants coveted by other franchises. "But is that what is probably the most gratifying? When you take a step back and you see people get opportunities that are earned and deserved because of the way they possibly poured into the players, myself, this building? Heck yeah." 

It's thought Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris could interview for head-coaching opportunities this winter. Perhaps McVay would welcome a reunion with Staley if Morris heads elsewhere.