Jim Harbaugh has the Chargers back in the conversation, even if the postseason results haven’t caught up yet.
Los Angeles is still chasing its first Lombardi Trophy, part of a group of 12 franchises that have never won the Super Bowl. The league’s title history stretches across 60 Super Bowl championships in the 61st year of the Super Bowl Era, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots leading the way at six each. The Browns, Lions, Texans and Jaguars are still waiting for their first trip to the “Big Game.”
For the Chargers, though, the bigger story is the direction they’ve taken under Harbaugh. The team went 11-6 in each of his first two seasons and reached the playoffs both times. That hasn’t solved everything - the playoff losses are still there, and they go back well before Harbaugh arrived - but the overall picture is a lot brighter than it was from 2019-23, when Los Angeles went 36-48 under three different head coaches.
The Harbaugh era has already produced a 22-14 record, and it’s the best sustained stretch the franchise has had since the early 2000s. From 2006-09, the Chargers won four straight AFC West titles. Those were also the last back-to-back playoff berths the franchise had managed until Harbaugh took over in 2024.
The low point before this turnaround remains the 31-30 playoff loss at Jacksonville in 2022, when the Chargers wasted a 27-0 second-quarter lead. That collapse still hangs over the recent history of the team, but it’s also part of why the current run stands out so sharply.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report believes Harbaugh’s edge is what makes this team dangerous again.
“Harbaugh brought a physical identity with him to L.A.,” explained Kay, “emphasizing toughness, discipline and complementary football. Those traits may not be flashy, but they win games-especially late in the season.”
Kay also pointed to what could be coming next for this group.
“The tools for a double-digit win campaign are all at Harbaugh's disposal in 2026…” added Kay. “While this group limped to the finish line last year due to injuries, the Bolts have made back-to-back playoff appearances under Harbaugh and are likely to make it three in a row this year.”
The front office clearly spent the offseason trying to support that push. General manager Joe Hortiz targeted the interior of the offensive line after Pro Football Focus ranked the unit 30th in the league. Justin Herbert was forced to absorb too many hits behind a line that was missing its starting tackles for either all of 2025 in Rashawn Slater or most of it in Joe Alt.
To address that, the Chargers added center Tyler Biadasz from the Commanders and right guard Cole Strange from the Dolphins in free agency. They also drafted four offensive linemen in April.
Tight end depth got a boost too, with veteran additions Charlie Kolar and David Njoku joining Oronde Gadsden II in a more versatile room for new coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense.
The big question now is whether year three under Harbaugh finally brings a breakthrough. Los Angeles hasn’t won the AFC West since 2009, and its last playoff victory came in 2018. Both streaks are very much in play heading into this season.
In Other News...
Chargers Rookie Already Facing Pressure In A Crucial Week 1 Battle
The Chargers entered camp with the kind of interior line questions that tend to linger until the pads come on and the pecking order starts to settle. Jake Slaughter, the rookie offensive lineman they drafted, has been talked about as a possible answer at guard, and coaches have sounded upbeat about his chances to make that transition and potentially push for a Week 1 role.
For now, though, the picture is not as clean as the optimism around him. Slaughter is spending time at center as well as guard, and there is already outside skepticism about whether he can claim an immediate starting job in time. With other options in the mix, the real test for the rookie is not just learning one spot, but proving he can force his way into the first-team conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert May Finally Get What The Chargers Offense Has Lacked
Justin Herberts offseason has already looked different in one important way, with the Chargers quarterback stepping into a new chapter off the field after getting engaged to singer Madison Beer. Herbert has called it a life-changing experience, and while that obviously has nothing to do with protections or route concepts, it does speak to a player who seems settled as he heads into a crucial stretch of his career. The timing also matters for a Chargers offense that has spent too much time asking Herbert to do heavy lifting on his own.
Now hes pairing with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose approach is built around quicker throws and taking pressure off the quarterback. McDaniels previous offenses in Miami did that well, ranking near the top of the league in limiting quarterback pressure while also generating efficient production on a play-by-play basis. For a team hoping Herbert can be more protected and the offense more sustainable, that philosophy is the kind of change the Chargers have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Tight End Overhaul Could Become A Real Weapon For Justin Herbert
The Chargers spent the offseason reworking the tight end room in a way that could change how Justin Herbert is supported on Sundays. They brought in Charlie Kolar and David Njoku, then added Oronde Gadsden II in the draft after Pro Football Focus analysts ranked him 23rd among tight ends. Gadsden arrives with a promising rookie rsum, including 664 receiving yards and 49 catches, while Kolar was brought in to help shore up the blocking side of the position.
Mike McDaniels arrival as offensive coordinator gives the overhaul a clearer purpose, since the Chargers clearly want to lean into the different things each tight end can do. If the group settles in quickly, Herbert could have a more varied set of options than he has had in recent seasons, with pass-catching ability and in-line help both available in the same room. The only real question now is how much of that new structure turns into a consistent weekly advantage once the games start. [Read more 🡒]