The New Orleans Saints have appointed Brandon Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, as their next defensive coordinator. This move marks a notable return for Staley, who is already familiar with new head coach Kellen Moore, as he had previously brought Staley on board for a coordinator position during their time together.
Staley’s hiring follows a year spent on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the San Francisco 49ers. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Friday afternoon, “The Saints are hiring former Chargers coach Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator for coach Kellen Moore.”
The #Saints are hiring former #Chargers coach Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator for coach Kellen Moore, per The Insiders.
Staley was an assistant this year with the #49ers, and before LAC, he burst onto the scene as a #Rams DC. Now, lands in NO. pic.twitter.com/ytNtbTMdzm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2025
Staley’s NFL career began in 2017 when he was hired as the outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears by John Fox after several years of coaching in college. From there, he ascended through the ranks, eventually becoming the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, which led to his head coaching position with the Chargers.
However, Staley’s time in Los Angeles was marked by challenges as the team occasionally underperformed and appeared disjointed. Nevertheless, he managed to rejuvenate his coaching reputation last season in San Francisco, demonstrating his capabilities as a coordinator. Now, with renewed opportunity, there is optimism that he can replicate his previous successes in New Orleans. As the Saints have not made many significant moves recently, it will be interesting to see how Staley’s hiring unfolds.
