Chargers chase the next step under Harbaugh, with coordinator changes and a pass-rush boost

The Los Angeles Chargers have been good under Jim Harbaugh — just not quite good enough. Los Angeles finished as the AFC West runner-up in each of Harbaugh's first two seasons, only to bow out of the playoffs quickly both times. The question defining the 2026 offseason: are the changes the Chargers made enough to push them from good to great, or will they again land in that frustrating middle ground?

Retooling the staff

The Chargers' most notable offseason moves came on the coaching staff, with coordinator changes aimed at unlocking more from a talented roster. When a team keeps finishing second and exiting early, tweaking the scheme and voices around a strong core is a logical lever to pull. Whether the new arrangements are the difference between contending and contending for real is the central question.

A pass-rush addition

Los Angeles used its first-round pick on edge rusher Akeem Mesidor at No. 22, reinforcing the defensive front. A young pass rusher fits a team that wants to build a defense capable of winning in January, and it's the kind of foundational addition that pays off over time. Beyond that, the Chargers were relatively quiet in free agency, betting on internal growth and continuity.

The Herbert factor

Everything for the Chargers ultimately runs through quarterback Justin Herbert, one of the league's most talented passers. A team with Herbert under center and Harbaugh on the sideline has a high floor, and the pieces for a deep run are in place. The challenge has been converting regular-season competitiveness into postseason success — the exact gap the coordinator changes are meant to close.

Season outlook

The Chargers enter 2026 as a playoff-caliber team in a loaded AFC West, with a real chance to contend if the staff changes elevate the offense and the young pass rush develops. There's urgency, too — the early schedule matters, and a slow start would raise questions fast. Los Angeles has the quarterback, the coach, and the talent; what it's chasing is the leap from perennial runner-up to genuine contender. If the retooled staff delivers, this could be the year the Chargers finally break through.