The Chargers are dipping into the veteran coaching pool, bringing in Adam Gase for an offensive assistant role with a focus on the passing game, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It's a notable move not just because of Gase’s résumé, but because it marks his return to the NFL sidelines after a five-year absence.
Gase, 47, has had one of the more winding paths through the league’s coaching ranks. He got his start in 2003 with the Detroit Lions as a scouting assistant, slowly climbing the ladder over five seasons before heading to San Francisco in 2008.
But it was in Denver where his career really began to take shape. After joining the Broncos as a wide receivers coach, Gase eventually earned the offensive coordinator role - and that’s where he made his biggest mark, helping to orchestrate one of the league’s most explosive offenses during the Peyton Manning era.
Following the Broncos’ coaching overhaul in 2015, Gase landed in Chicago for a season as the Bears' offensive coordinator before securing his first head coaching gig with the Miami Dolphins in 2016. Miami saw some early promise under Gase, even reaching the playoffs in his first season, but inconsistency ultimately led to his dismissal after the 2018 campaign.
He wasn’t out of work for long. The Jets hired Gase in 2019, hoping his offensive acumen could spark a turnaround.
But the results didn’t match the expectations. After two rocky seasons in New York, the Jets moved on, and Gase stepped away from the NFL coaching scene.
Now, he’s back - and while this isn’t a headlining role, it’s a significant one. The Chargers are clearly looking to bolster their offensive brain trust, particularly in the passing game, and Gase brings a deep well of experience in quarterback development and scheme design. Whether he can help elevate the Chargers’ air attack remains to be seen, but his return adds another intriguing layer to an already pivotal offseason in Los Angeles.