The idea of the Los Angeles Chargers turning to Adam Gase as an offensive play-calling option is the kind of development that can make Jets fans smirk and Chargers fans groan at the same time.
That possibility came up Wednesday, with Ian Rapoport noting that Gase is a name to watch if the Chargers decide they need a change. “Pretty good coach, so if they do end up making a move, that would be someone who could step in.”
Rapoport also said the Chargers are not expected to make any major changes right away, so Gase won’t be taking over play-calling duties just yet. For now, he remains in his current job as the team’s passing game analyst.
The timing of the whole conversation is rough for Los Angeles. The Chargers sit at 0-5, and their season has unraveled fast after an opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Justin Herbert leads the league with seven interceptions, and Jim Harbaugh’s team has already dropped three games by one score. Only the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins have scored fewer points.
That’s the kind of offensive mess that usually gets people searching for answers. In this case, one of those answers is a familiar and fairly unpopular one from around the league.
The reaction to Gase’s name is rooted in his track record, including the way he has been tied to success he did not exactly build from the ground up. The source of that reputation traces back to the 2013 Denver Broncos, who scored 606 points and had the league’s highest-scoring offense. But that team was driven by a healthy Peyton Manning and a loaded supporting cast.
From there, Gase moved on to become offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears and later head coach of the Dolphins. Then Woody Johnson and Mike Maccagnan hired him to lead the Jets less than two weeks after Miami cut him loose. Maccagnan was fired shortly after the draft.
Gase then spent five years without an NFL coaching job before resurfacing in his current role. So the notion of him potentially moving back into a play-calling position in 2026 is enough to make plenty of people laugh out loud.
Still, the larger picture in Los Angeles is hard to ignore. The Chargers are dealing with a messy start, and the speculation only grows when a team begins searching for fixes. For the Jets, there’s at least one silver lining: they play the Chargers in Week 11.
In Other News...
Jets Could Take A Huge Pass Rush Gamble Next To David Bailey
The Jets are already thinking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, where edge rusher could be one of the areas they try to address around David Bailey. With multiple first-round picks in hand, New York has the kind of draft capital that can change how aggressive a team is when it spots a pass-rush talent it likes, especially if the front office believes the roster will have enough veteran presence to help keep younger players on track.
One name to watch is South Carolinas Dylan Stewart, a high-upside defender whose profile comes with some off-field baggage that has already complicated his stock. Even so, the Jets may be in a position to weigh the upside against the risk, and how far theyre willing to go for help opposite Bailey could end up telling us plenty about how bold they plan to be with those premium picks. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Rookie May Have Earned A Bigger Role At Perfect Time
Darrell Jackson Jr. is starting to look like more than a developmental piece on the Jets defensive front. The rookie tackle made his presence felt against the Browns, flashing the kind of length and disruption that can change a drive in a hurry, and coach Aaron Glenn has already pointed to Jacksons work in practice and the way he uses his size as reasons for the growing confidence around him.
The timing could not be much better for a defense getting ready to face New England. The Patriots may be without left tackle Will Campbell, which only increases the importance of interior pressure and forces the Jets to consider where Jackson fits as the matchup plan takes shape. Whether his recent surge translates into a bigger role is the next question, but he has at least given the coaching staff something useful to think about. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Glenn Is Fueling A Jets Debate Fans Cant Ignore
Aaron Glenn has brought a sharper edge to the Jets defense, and that part of his early work is hard to miss. The unit looks more organized and more disruptive, which matters for a team trying to establish any kind of identity under a first-year head coach who is also trying to oversee the whole operation.
But the bigger question around Glenn is no longer just about play-calling or scheme. It is about whether the posture he brings on game day, and the way he carries himself with players and officials, fits a team still searching for direction and sitting near 1-4. The defense has given him something tangible to point to, yet the broader head coach picture is where the debate keeps getting louder. [Read more 🡒]