Chargers tap Staley as coach

COSTA MESA ,C A LIF.» The Los Angeles Chargers have hired Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as the team’s head coach.

The Chargers made the decision Sunday after having a second interview with Staley. The interview was held a day after the Rams were eliminated from the playoffs with a 32-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

“It’s not just that Brandon possesses a tremendous football mind that makes him the ideal head coach to lead our team forward,” general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. “It’s that he excels in the ability to effectively tailor, apply and communicate his concepts to players.

The 38-year old Staley was in demand with interviews also scheduled with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles. He also had an interview with the New York Jets before they hired Robert Saleh.

Staley, who will be formally introduced Thursday, replaces Anthony Lynn, who was fired on Jan. 4 after going 7-9 this past season. Lynn had a 33-31 mark in four seasons and led the Chargers to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2018.

packers make seats available.

The Green Bay Packers are making 6,500 tickets available to season-ticket holders for the NFC championship game.

This represents the same number of tickets they sold to their NFC divisional playoff victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.

A total of 8,456 fans attended the Packers’ 32-18 victory Saturday, though that total also included invited frontline healthcare worker and first responders.