San Francisco 49ers interview former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley for DC opening

Almost all the coordinator jobs in the NFL are full but former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley could still land one before they’re gone. According to multiple reports, Staley interviewed for the final defensive coordinator opening with the San Francisco 49ers last week.

The Chargers fired Staley before the end of the season, relieving him of his duties on Dec. 15. He spent three seasons at the helm of the organization after taking over in 2021. Staley, 41, had a 24-24 record during his time in Los Angeles and only recorded one playoff appearance.

In Staley’s final game as the Chargers’ head coach, the team fell 63-21 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Los Angeles entered the matchup ranked 29th in total yards and passing yards allowed. At the half, the Raiders held a 42-0 lead. They fired him less than 24 hours later.

His tenure started with a 9-8 mark in 2021 and he made his first playoff appearance in 2022 with a 10-7 record. That put the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card game, and they led the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-0 at one point.

However, that lead eventually evaporated, and Los Angeles ultimately fell 31-30. The stunning loss sent Staley into his third season with no shortage of heat, and it didn’t seem to cool down, considering the Chargers’ struggles — particularly on defense. He replaced his offensive coordinator but it was a bandaid that lasted less than a season.

Staley got his first NFL defensive coordinator opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, leading a unit that ranked led the league in total defense. Only a year later, Staley found himself in the driver’s seat in Los Angeles with the Chargers.

Staley on the hunt for coordinator job

After losing the Chargers head coaching job, Staley interviewed with multiple teams for their defensive coordinator openings. He sat down with the Green Bay Packers, L.A. Rams and the Miami Dolphins. All three teams went in other directions.

The San Francisco 49ers have been on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator since firing Steve Wilks after the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. Under Wilks in 2023, the 49ers ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total defense during the regular season but performance dipped in the postseason. San Francisco allowed nearly 26 points per game in three playoff games and allowed the game-winning score in overtime in the Super Bowl.

Along with Staley, the 49ers have also reportedly interviewed in-house candidate Nick Sorensen. Sorensen served as San Francisco’s defensive passing game specialist and nickels coach last season. He joined the 49ers as a defensive assistant after spending the 2021 season as the special teams coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.