Rex Ryan: UST-turned-Chargers head coach Brandon Staley 'belongs' in Division III
Brandon Staley's seat in Los Angeles is hotter than ever after the Chargers lost to the Packers on Sunday, falling to 4-6 on the season and sitting in 13th place in the AFC.
Rex Ryan, the former head coach of the Jets who now delivers big opinions on ESPN's Get up, said Monday morning that Staley belongs back in Division III college football, a reference to Staley's time coaching at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2009.
Note: The Tommies are now a member of the Division I FCS Pioneer Conference.
"I think he should back in Division III football where he belongs. Look at his résumé, man. I mean, I'm sorry, dude comes in there one year coordinating a team that my wife could coach, alright, with Aaron Donald, all those guys. Stop it," Ryan barked.
"Trust me, she'd do a helluva lot better job than this guy's doing with this defense. They're the second highest payroll in the National Football League on defense, and they're the second worst. This team is atrocious."
Staley was the defensive line and special teams coach at St. Thomas in 2009. He later spent three seasons (2013, 2015-2016) as the defensive coordinator at John Carroll University in Ohio, which is also a Division III football school.
Staley is in his third season as head coach of the Chargers (left). He coached at St. thomas (right) in 2009.
Photo credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports, University of St. Thomas
Ryan said the Chargers made quarterback Jordan Love look like Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre and Bart Starr. And then he criticized Staley's passionate response when he told a reporter who asked about the defense to stop asking the question.
"You know, I'm sorry, your job's to sit up there and answer questions. That man has a right, or woman, has a right to ask you any question she wants. You get paid to answer those things, alright? Handle it," Ryan said.
"The reason they're questioning you is because you're atrocious on defense. Give it to anybody else. Let somebody else coach because it ain't getting done."
Staley is 23-21 in three seasons as head coach of the Chargers.
