SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the weeks following his parting ways with the Los Angeles Chargers in mid-December, Brandon Staley spent his days trying to analyze everything that had happened in his nearly three seasons as head coach.
Staley was reading books, exercising and hanging out with his family. Throughout that period, he wanted to make sure that whatever job his next NFL job had in store made sense.
That opportunity arose in early March, when the San Francisco 49ers hired Staley to coach Kyle Shanahan’s defensive staff. On Tuesday, Staley’s title (assistant head coach/defense) was revealed.
“I don’t think looking at it as a reset is a bad thing,” Staley said Wednesday in his first interview with Bay Area media. “I think about playing quarterback when you restart. It gives you a pause to move on to the next thing. And I was very excited about the role. I think talking to Kyle and (general manager) John (Lynch), there’s just a lot in common and how to run a soccer team.
“And that’s what I was looking for more than anything: an opportunity where you feel like you’re going to be aligned with the right people who do things the right way and where you have an opportunity to improve and where you also have an opportunity to affect to a team that can compete for a championship. I think all those stars aligned and it’s been energizing.”
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Staley’s addition came after the Niners fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks following an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in February. In firing Wilks, Shanahan said he wanted the defense to return to the principles that made it one of the league’s best units under previous coordinators Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans.
While Staley has no experience in that scheme, Niners assistant Nick Sorensen does, which is why Sorensen was named the new D-coordinator. But an interview with Staley left Shanahan and Lynch intrigued by what he could bring to the team. mix.
Schematically, Staley is a disciple of Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator of the 49ers under Jim Harbaugh from 2011 to 2014 and current coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Niners hope the experience can translate into Staley adding some wrinkles to the defense while also linking the pass rush and coverage more cohesively.
“I think Brandon is in a very good situation, just moving away from being a head coach and how he can help us in a number of roles,” Shanahan said. “I think Nick is very excited to have someone on staff who has called plays, who has done it in different places and things. I think he has helped him a lot in that regard.
“Brandon is helping him with a lot of things, just like all the other coaches on the defensive staff do. With Brandon’s experience in other areas besides defense, with his experience as a head coach and stuff, I thought he was a It really benefits me in the Draft and it also helps me in several areas.”
Shanahan and Staley knew each other well from previous meetings when Staley was coaching the Chargers or coordinating the Los Angeles Rams‘ defense in 2020. The Niners and Chargers held joint practices in Costa Mesa, California, in 2021, giving the pair another chance. to see us work up close.
Staley said Wednesday that he has long admired Shanahan, and even when Sorensen landed the coordinator job, their mutual admiration ultimately led to the creation of the position for Staley.
“I’ve seen since Kyle became the head coach here and John became the general manager here, when they came here together, how far they’ve really taken this team and the organization from 2017 to now,” Staley said. “And I think every year I’ve been in the NFL, I’ve competed against this team, so I’ve seen the growth of this football team, this organization, and I think that’s where the respect comes from.
“I think a lot of people see the Niners for what they are, but it wasn’t like that at the beginning. And there was a journey to get there, and I know how hard they’ve worked to get to this point.”
According to Shanahan, Staley’s role will continue to evolve. He will help Sorensen put together the game plan. And while it’s unclear where he will coach on game days, Staley could also contribute to game management. Staley also offered insight for Lynch and his staff in preparation for the draft.
During organized team activities on Tuesday, Staley was even seen playing the role of quarterback in the defensive setup portion of practice. It’s something Shanahan has mostly done since his arrival in 2017, with Shanahan noticing his arm hurt a little and joking that Staley “wanted to show me he could do it better.”
It’s all part of a new beginning for Staley after he went 24-24 with one playoff appearance in two-plus seasons with the Chargers before being fired following a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the Week 15.
For now, returning to head coaching is not on Staley’s radar.
“The more you train, you realize this is one day at a time,” Staley said. “The more you do it, the more you’re going to focus on today. And so the more you do it, the more I’m going to focus on being the best I can be today for these guys. And if we put the effort in for the players, good things will happen.” “.
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