Brandon Staley’s stock isn’t high following the end of his spell as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, but he has a huge fan in one of the newest members of the San Francisco 49ers.

Staley was hired by the 49ers last month as their new assistant head coach. Though the 49ers have not confirmed such, his remit is likely to be defense, given an impressive coaching resume of that side of the ball and the fact the Niners hired a first-time defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson.

The lone season Staley had as the coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams defense enhanced his reputation to the point where he was hired by the Chargers. The shine may now have come off Staley, but he still has a huge admirer whom he coached on that Rams team and during his early days with the Chicago Bears.

San Francisco signed Leonard Floyd to a two-year, $20 million deal to boost an edge pass rush that, outside of Nick Bosa, did not deliver consistent disruption during the 49ers' run to the Super Bowl last season.

Floyd’s addition should help. He has 39.5 sacks over the last four seasons, including 10.5 in 2020 when Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator.

Prior to that, Floyd played under Staley when he was the outside linebackers coach from 2017 to 2018.

And Floyd is clearly delighted to get the chance to reunite with Staley in the Bay Area.

“Coach Staley man, that’s my guy, I’ve been knowing coach Staley since my second year in the league, so it’s been a long time of knowing him,” Floyd told reporters this week.

“He knows me too, he knows what type of player I am and what I bring to the table, that’s my guy for sure.”

Asked to elaborate on why he has such an affinity for Staley, Floyd added: “He’s one of us those guys, you ain’t even got to pay him, he’ll still show up and do his job for the game.

“He loves the game to death. He’s a die hard guy, he rides for his guys on the field and he’s about getting you better. Anything to help a player get better, he’ll pretty much buy into it and help you out with that.”

The 49ers are hoping for a defensive upturn with Staley and Sorensen after taking something of a step back under Steve Wilks last season. Judging by Floyd’s endorsement, the Niners have the guy who should be able to coax improvement of an ultra-talented group that was the best in the league as recently as 2022.

Grading every San Francisco 49ers move from a frantic opening week of 2024 NFL Free Agency

They’ve done a nice job.