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While working as an NFL head coach has plenty of perks (fame and fortune are chief among them), job security isn't really part of the deal. As the cliché goes, you can't fire the entire roster; when the team underperforms, the bench boss is usually the one who pays the price.
That's what happened to Brandon Staley, who lost his job after an embarrassing Thursday Night Football drubbing.
But the show, as always, must go on, and the Los Angeles Chargers can't continue without someone taking charge of the troops. Enter interim head coach Giff Smith.
Let's get to know him a bit more.
Who Is Giff Smith?
Some NFL coaches, like Bill Belichick or Vince Lombardi, have pushed beyond pro football to become household names. Giff Smith, respectfully, isn't in that bracket.
As laid out in his Chargers bio, the interim head coach has largely worked in lower-key roles throughout his time on the sidelines. He started out as a graduate assistant at Arkansas and Georgia before joining Georgia Southern's staff as a wide receiver and secondary coach. He then moved on to Tulane and Georgia Tech, where he started working with defensive linemen.
After that, Smith was ready for the NFL. In 2010, the coach joined the Buffalo Bills. He'd later serve on the Titans and Chargers' staffs as a defensive line coach. Within the Bolts organization, however, he shifted further back and started focusing on outside linebackers.
And, as mentioned above, Smith was tapped to see out the season after Staley's firing in December 2023.
Did Smith Play in the NFL?
When a new coach takes over, one of the first places fans look is at their resume. While everyone has to start somewhere, diving head-first into the deep end can be risky.
With that thought process in mind, Smith did not play pro football. He suited up at Georgia Southern, earning three-time All-American honors and claiming three NCAA I-AA national titles. He was also a team captain during his final season with the squad.
After that success, though, the defensive end didn't head to the big-time. Instead, he stepped into coaching as a graduate assistant.
Smith Has Coached Plenty of Talent
Given that he didn't play football past college, you might be thinking that Smith had better possess some serious coaching chops. Well, if nothing else, he has worked with some big-time talents.
As the Chargers were sure to emphasize after giving him the top job, the interim head coach helped Joey Bosa develop into an NFL star; Khalil Mack and Melvin Ingram also performed well under Smith's eye.
Before coming to California, the coach also worked with a Bills front line featuring a young Kyle Williams and Mario Williams as well as a Titans line, which saw Jurrell Casey reach the Pro Bowl.
And, during his time at Georgia Tech, Smith coached several NFL players and Joe Anoaʻi, who found wrestling fame as Roman Reigns.
Smith's Current Goals Are Probably Limited
Given that the team has leaned on Smith's developmental past, you might think that he'll be tasked with building the Chargers up and kickstarting a rebuild.
In reality, though, his goals will probably be a bit shorter-term.
At this point in the season, there isn't much room for coaching or development. There are three games left in the season, and a backup quarterback is under center. And when you consider that L.A. will need a new general manager—JoJo Wooden is the interim GM—who will presumably want their own pick of head coach, Smith is probably there to be a safe pair of hands.
He knows the team and, given his tenure, is probably a respected presence on the staff. If he can keep the bottom from completely falling out before the end of the season, he'll have done his job.
Kellen Moore Is Still in His OC Role
Beyond Smith, though, it's worth remembering that there's still a high-profile name on the Chargers' coaching staff: Kellen Moore.
The former Dallas Cowboys player and coach joined the Bolts ahead of the 2023 campaign, stepping in as the team's offensive coordinator. And while that position seemed like it might have given him an inside track to the interim head coach role, Moore wasn't given the assignment.
Given Smith's defensive focus, though, it's safe to assume the OC will still be calling plays for Easton Stick and company. His longer-term future, however, could be up in the air. If a new general manager brings in a new head coach, he'll presumably want to pick his own coordinators.
About the writer
Joe Kozlowski is the Newsweek Sports Team Lead based in New York. His focus is covering U.S. sports. He is especially passionate about ... Read more