The Los Angeles Chargers have parted ways with head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco following their humiliating 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chargers slipped to their fourth defeat from five matches at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, where they moved onto a 5-9 record for the season owing to a horrendous defensive display.
Staley's team faced a 42-0 deficit after the second quarter, and despite matching the Raiders with 21 points apiece in the second half of the contest, the die had long been cast.
With 14 matches gone in the 2023-24 season, the Chargers sit rock bottom of the AFC West and are only above the New England Patriots - who have already been eliminated from post-season contention - in the entire conference.
As their playoff hopes hang by the thinnest of threads, the Los Angeles franchise have pulled the trigger on Staley and Telesco, marking the first time since Kevin Gilbride was dismissed in 1998 that the Chargers have fired a coach during the campaign.
A statement from Chargers owner Dean Spanos read: "I want to thank Tom and Brandon for their hard work, dedication and professionalism, and wish both them and their great families nothing but the best.
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"These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly -- especially when you consider the number of people they impact. 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."
Staley replaced Anthony Lynn as head coach of the Chargers in January 2021 and led the Bolts to a fifth-placed AFC finish last season, but their Super Bowl dreams came to an end with a 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card playoff round.
Meanwhile, Telesco had served as general manager of the Chargers for over a decade, having been hired to succeed AJ Smith in January 2013, where he became the youngest GM in the Bolts' history at 40 years old.
Linebackers coach Giff Smith has been promoted to interim head coach for next Saturday's home clash with the Buffalo Bills, while director of player personnel JoJo Wooden will serve as general manager on a temporary basis.
Ben Knapton
