Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert have already done enough in Los Angeles to get the Chargers mentioned among the NFL’s better coach-quarterback pairings. The question now is how high they really belong.
CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell ranked the league’s top 10 HC-QB duos and slotted the Chargers at No. 9 heading into the 2026 season. The Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence-Liam Coen pairing came in just behind them at No. 10, while the Chiefs landed all the way up at No. 2.
Podell pointed to just how rough things got around Herbert last season.
"No team had a more dire offensive line situation than the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025," Podell wrote.
"The Chargers allowed 60 sacks (the most in team history) and the most quarterback hits in the NFL (138) while having 11 different starting offensive line combinations because of injuries, which was tied for the most in the NFL.
"Yet, quarterback Justin Herbert, whose 24,820 total passing yards rank as the second-most in a player's first six seasons in NFL history, and head coach Jim Harbaugh figured out a way to drag Los Angeles into the postseason. The Chargers appeared in the AFC Wild Card round before the offensive line disintegrated into the New England January air.
The only things holding back this duo are team health and postseason success. "
That last part is the heart of it. Harbaugh and Herbert have the résumé to get noticed, but not yet the playoff breakthrough to push them into the very top tier.
They’re heading into their third season together, and the early returns are strong: a 22-12 record and back-to-back playoff appearances. Still, they haven’t won a playoff game yet.
The Chargers will try to change that in 2026, with Herbert and Harbaugh carrying the weight of a roster that looks capable of a deeper run. The regular-season production is there. Now the next step is turning it into a real Super Bowl chase.
In Other News...
Chargers Injury Report Already Exposes A Problem Before Arizona
The Chargers first official injury report of the 2026 season arrived with an immediate reminder that Week 1 rarely comes with a clean bill of health. Tuli Tuipulotu, Deane Leonard and RJ Mickens were among the names listed, while Keaton Mitchell and Brenen Thompson were already known to be working through injuries. It is early, but the opening report still offers a useful snapshot of where Los Angeles stands as it begins preparing for Arizona.
The bigger concern for the Chargers may be the secondary, where the departure of Benjamin St. Juste has left the cornerback depth chart looking thinner than ideal. Behind the top three corners, the options are limited, which makes every practice report feel a little more important than usual. Even before the opener kicks off, the Chargers already have a small but familiar Week 1 problem on their hands. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans Just Watched A Local TV Shot Backfire Fast
A new mural in Torrance gave Chargers fans another reason to feel good about their team and their city. Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas unveiled the twelve-story piece, titled The Storm is Coming, with Justin Herbert and Derwin James Jr. front and center, turning the project into both a tribute to the Chargers and a piece of local pride that fits the franchises Southern California identity.
KTLA briefly turned that scene into something else when it published and aired critical coverage tied to the mural unveiling, only to pull the article back almost as quickly. The on-air criticism was later dismissed by an anchor, leaving the episode more memorable for how fast it unraveled than for the point it seemed to be making in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Settled A Key Justin Herbert Protection Question
The Chargers have settled at least one important part of Justin Herberts protection plan heading into Week 1, naming veteran offensive lineman Kayode Awosika as their starting left guard. Awosika won the job after working through the offseason competition, and his background with the Detroit Lions gives Los Angeles a lineman who has already seen time at both left guard and tackle.
Jim Harbaugh confirmed the decision, but the larger picture up front still looks fluid. Even with Awosika set to open the season in the spot, the Chargers may continue to mix and match different offensive line combinations as they settle on the best five to keep Herbert upright. [Read more 🡒]