After two seasons of unmet expectations followed by one epic step backward in 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers parted ways with embattled head coach Brandon Staley. He finishes his nearly three seasons as coach with a 24-24 record, but with Justin Herbert and a squad built to win now, it wasn’t enough. 

Of all the teams expected to be seeking a new head coach for the 2024 NFL season, the Chargers might be the best positioned to be a contender right away. 

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has used his resources of NFL contacts developed over 20 years covering the league to update his NFL futures odds on who’s leading the Chargers out of the tunnel in 2024. 

Chargers' Next Coach Odds

These odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

Who Will Be The Chargers' Next Coach?

As expected, the biggest candidates for new NFL head coach jobs are at the top of the biggest vacancy. 

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh just led his Wolverines in the college football national championship game. But the embattled coach has been suspended twice in this season alone for breaking rules; sanctions may still be coming to the program. 

And Harbaugh is the kind of coach who may prefer to climb the mountaintop than to be at its peak. He left the 49ers after guiding them to a Super Bowl berth and could get back into the NFL ranks with nowhere to go but down in Ann Arbor. 

Harbaugh interviewed with the Chargers on MLK Day, and a second interview is planned, so there is a clear mutual interest. Based on how things are shaking out so far, Harbaugh is likely to be either in Ann Arbor or L.A. in 2024, with the Falcons also in the mix. 

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The trend for future head coaches is currently big on the offensive side of the ball. Most of the future heads of the NFL are already leading top-tier offensive units.

Offensive coordinators Ben Johnson of the Lions and the in-house Kellen Moore of the Chargers could land lead spots this offseason. The Chargers have interviewed all three of them. 

While someone to work with Herbert on the offense could be the Chargers' preferred path, the defense was the big problem in L.A. this season. The team isn't leaving that side of the stone unturned, despite being burned by the defense-first Staley. 

49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, and Rams DC Raheem Morris have all been mentioned as possible future head coaches. All three have been head coaches in the past; only Quinn saw any success, guiding the Falcons to a Super Bowl berth. Years later, however, any of them could be improved as the top dog in a new situation. 

Ravens coordinators Mike Macdonald (defense) and Todd Monken (offense) are also on the list of finalists the Chargers will consider. The Ravens ranked sixth in the NFL in both total offense and total defense and earned the top seed in the AFC, improving three wins from 2022. 

Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and former Stanford head coach David Shaw have also interviewed with the Chargers. 

The Field is paced by Quinn and other defensive coordinators whom the Chargers at least plan to consider, including the Lions' Aaron Glenn, the Bills' Leslie Frazier, and the Raiders' Patrick Graham. Legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former Seahawks Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll were popular early contenders, but only on social media. Neither has spoken with the team about the vacancy.