Did the Broncos let the next great head coach slip through their fingers?
Oct 14, 2021, 4:20 PM | Updated: 4:22 pm
Broncos Country is frustrated with the team’s coaching staff. They’re losing patience with Vic Fangio. They’re growing weary of Pat Shurmur. And they’re fed up with Tom McMahon.
That’s what happens when a team is 15-22 during the head coach’s tenure. That’s the result when the offensive coordinator hasn’t put a touchdown on the board in any of his 21 games on the job. That’s the byproduct of a special teams unit that seems to commit a blunder every week.
Inevitably, criticism of the Broncos coaches comes down to one simple follow-up question: Who could do it better?
The short and flippant answer is, “Darn near anyone.” Reality is a little trickier, however. It’s easy to point out the problem. It’s a whole other matter to provide the solution.
But when it comes to the head coach, it’s becoming more and more obvious with each passing week that Denver had the answer right in front of them. In a move reminiscent of passing on Josh Allen in the draft, however, they didn’t see it at the time.
Few people can probably name the Chargers head coach. Even in Los Angeles, Brandon Staley is yet to become a household name. But he’s a rising star in the NFL.
For starters, his team is currently 4-1 and sitting atop the AFC West. That’s an accomplishment, given that the Chargers were 12-20 in 2019-20 combined under Anthony Lynn. They also were a team that seemed to find a new and creative way to lose on a weekly basis.
The early returns suggest that Staley has righted the ship. In season one, he’s an early candidate for Coach of the Year honors.
That’s surprising, as Staley was an obscure choice. When hired, few knew much about the 38-year-old coach. And for good reason.
The had only been a defensive coordinator for one season, manning that post in 2020 for the Rams. Prior to that, Staley had only been in the NFL three years; prior to 2017, he’d been in the college ranks at places like Northern Illinois, Hutchinson, John Carroll and James Madison.
But he was on the Broncos staff in 2019, serving as the team’s outside linebackers coach in Vic Fangio’s first season. One of the brightest stars in the current coaching ranks spent a year at Dove Valley before being plucked away by Sean McVay.
Now, he’s not only enjoying success in the standings, but Staley is emerging as an inspirational speaker. While Fangio, Shurmur and Donatell stumble through press conferences, the Chargers head coach provides clips that get routed around on social media.
First, there was a gem about running the football. It was an answer that warmed the hearts of old-school coaches across the country.
Brandon Staley for the win pic.twitter.com/uxb2rqsNPe
— Eliot Crist (@EliotCrist) October 6, 2021
Clear, concise and easy to understand. He comes across as a very good communicator, someone who can explain things to people in a way they grasp.
But that pales in comparison to his latest gem. Staley may have provided the best response to the Jon Gruden situation, cutting right to the heart of the issue.
“I think what you’ll discover is that we have so much more in common than not” pic.twitter.com/nKfKazUQ4v
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2021
Kindness. Respect. Listening to people. Finding common ground. Bringing people together. Helping people become the people they dream about.
It was eloquent. It was heartfelt. It was wise and poignant.
“It’s a sacred mantle for someone to call you coach.” Those are powerful words. It’s a role of great power, but one that comes with great responsibility.
That’s the type of person anyone would want to play for. That’s the type of coach any organization would love to have in charge.
