Since relocating to Los Angeles, the Chargers have been a team defined by inconsistency-flashing promise one season, then stumbling the next. But under Jim Harbaugh, that pattern may finally be breaking. Back-to-back 11-6 seasons and consecutive playoff appearances suggest something this franchise has been chasing for years: stability.
That’s no small feat. Since their move from San Diego, the Chargers have hovered around mediocrity, compiling a 79-70 record.
There were flashes of potential-like the 2018 playoff win-but those were often followed by frustrating setbacks. Case in point: five-win seasons in both 2019 and 2023, each coming right after playoff berths.
They’ve had years where they finished above .500 but still missed the postseason (2017 and 2021), and their worst stretch came in 2019-2020, when they managed just 12 wins combined.
But the Justin Herbert era has brought a different energy. Even when they’ve stumbled, they’ve rebounded quickly.
That resilience is part of what’s made this current run feel different. Yes, postseason success has been elusive-2022’s collapse against the Jaguars still stings-but the team is no longer stuck in a cycle of one step forward, two steps back.
And that’s why the front office finally made the kind of bold changes that could push the Chargers from playoff participant to legitimate contender.
Harbaugh’s arrival has brought a new tone to the building. He’s not just a name with a résumé-he’s a culture-setter.
And now, with his staff in place-including offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose innovative play-calling helped unlock the Dolphins' offense-the pieces are finally aligning. The Chargers aren’t just talented on paper.
They’re starting to look like a team that can translate that talent into results.
Let’s not overlook the opportunity in front of them either. Despite all their progress, the Chargers have yet to win a single AFC West title since the move to L.A.
That could finally change. With Patrick Mahomes expected to start next season less than 100%, the division feels more open than it has in years.
The Chargers went 5-1 in the division this season-no small feat in a group that includes the Broncos, Raiders, and of course, the Chiefs.
Denver remains a legitimate threat, and the Raiders could be on the upswing with Klint Kubiak stepping in as head coach. But when you stack up the rosters, the Chargers have something those teams don’t: continuity.
Especially at quarterback. Herbert is healthy, ascending, and entering his prime.
That alone gives L.A. a massive edge.
And with Matthew Stafford’s future uncertain, Herbert has a real shot to become the face of football in Los Angeles. He’s got the arm, the poise, and now-finally-the coaching infrastructure to take that next leap.
Harbaugh hasn’t yet replicated the magic of his early 49ers tenure, when he led San Francisco to three straight NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance. But what he’s building in L.A. is starting to feel familiar.
The foundation is there. The quarterback is in place.
The coaching staff is aligned. And the team is trending in the right direction-something Chargers fans haven’t been able to say with much confidence in a long time.
For the first time since arriving in Los Angeles, the Chargers aren’t just hoping to be good. They’re expecting it. And that shift in mindset might be the biggest win of all.