The five players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the Los Angeles Chargers roster will have new leadership for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on Friday. Playing without quarterback Justin Herbert, who fractured the index finger on his throwing hand in Los Angeles’ previous game, the Chargers lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 63-21 on Thursday night.

After giving up the most points in franchise history, Los Angeles dropped to 5-9 for the 2023 season.

Outside-linebackers coach Giff Smith will serve as Los Angeles’ interim head coach for the remainder of the season, with JoJo Wooden, the team’s director of player personnel, adding the general-manager duties.

Staley had a 24-24 record since becoming the Chargers’ coach in 2021. Los Angeles went to the AFC playoffs as a wild-card team last season and blew a 27-point lead in a 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in its postseason appearance.

Telesco had been the Chargers’ general manager since 2013.

“I want to thank Tom and Brandon for their hard work, dedication and professionalism,” Spanos said in a statement released by the NFL team, “and wish both of them and their great families nothing but the best. These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly, especially when you consider the number of people they impact. We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need new vision. Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they’ve earned more. Building and maintaining a championship-caliber program remains our ultimate goal. And reimagining how we achieve that goal begins today.”

The Chargers have three games remaining on their regular-season schedule. Los Angeles has home games against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 23 and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 7 sandwiching a road contest against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 31.

The players with Alabama football roots on the Chargers’ roster include:

· Gerald Everett, tight end, UAB/South Alabama

· A.J. Finley, safety, St. Paul’s Episcopal

· Josh Harris, long snapper, Auburn

· JK Scott, punter, Alabama

· Nick Williams, defensive tackle, Minor, Samford

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.