The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to negotiate former Los Angeles Rams defense coordinator Brandon Staley as their new head coach, but they could not strip another coach than their rival in the city. On Tuesday, Albert Breer of the MMQB reported that the Rams had blocked offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell from interviewing the Chargers for the same job. Breer reports that Ramme appreciates O’Connell and the work he has done for them over the past year, and that they do not want to lose him. However, the lines of communication remain open, so things can change. But this is where the Rams now stand. Since it would be a lateral step for O’Connell, Rams head coach Sean McVay would have to approve it. He’s done it before, like when he gave the Tennessee Titans the thumbs up to appoint Matt LaFleur in 2018.
While O’Connell was an offensive coordinator with the Washington Football Team and the Rams for two years, joining the Chargers would have been a bit of a boost. Since Staley is a defensive head coach, O’Connell would probably have been the attacking playmaker – a role he does not play for the Rams – and he would be responsible for the development of Justin Herbert, the second-year full-back.
O’Connell began his career as coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2015 and also spent a year with the San Francisco 49ers as an attacking assistant before joining Washington in 2017. Washington head coach Jay Gruden then promoted him to an offensive coordinator so he did not lose to another NFL team. When Gruden was fired in Washington, O’Connell apparently also received some consideration for the head coach position.
As for the ongoing search for an offensive coordinator, current Chargers offensive coordinator Shane Steichen can be retained. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that he remains a strong internal option. The Chargers have appointed a defensive head coach, but that does not mean they are ignoring the offense.