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Adam Gase is officially back in the NFL, and the Broncos’ old offensive coordinator is doing it on the Denver rival everyone loves to hate.
Multiple reports say the Los Angeles Chargers are hiring the former Jets and Dolphins head coach as an offensive assistant with a focus on the passing game (official title TBD).
Adam Gase has worked with QBs such as Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and Sam Darnold, setting records with Manning as OC. Now, set to work with Justin Herbert with the #Chargers. https://t.co/bnvqaWMRFN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2026
And for Broncos fans, the name isn’t random at all: Gase was Denver’s quarterbacks coach-turned-offensive coordinator during the Peyton Manning era, meaning his return lands directly in the AFC West pressure cooker, now on the other sideline.
Adam Gase’s Chargers role: passing-game help in Jim Harbaugh’s building
The key detail from the initial reporting: Gase is expected to work on the passing game in some capacity, even if the exact job title hasn’t been publicly finalized yet.
That matters because the Chargers are led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, and this kind of hire reads like a “veteran eyes-in-the-room” move, someone who’s called plays, installed offenses, and lived through the weekly NFL chess match as both a coordinator and head coach.
For Denver fans tracking the division: it’s another reminder that AFC West games rarely stay simple. Coaching staffs become scouting reports, too, especially when someone has deep history with one of the opponents.
Why Broncos fans know Gase: the Peyton Manning era connection
Gase’s Broncos ties are direct and official.
Denver promoted Gase to offensive coordinator in January 2013, elevating him from quarterbacks coach after Mike McCoy left to become the head coach of the (then) San Diego Chargers. Yes, the Chargers were involved even then, which makes today’s twist feel even more on-brand for the rivalry.
During that stretch, Gase was closely linked to Manning’s late-career peak, and Manning publicly backed him as a head-coaching candidate back in 2014.
Now, the irony is baked in: a coach who helped run an offense that tried to keep Denver on top of the AFC… is stepping into the same division as a Chargers assistant, preparing for two games a year against the franchise that once promoted him.
The Broncos angle right now: Denver’s offense is changing, while a former OC joins a rival
This isn’t happening in a vacuum for Denver, either.
The Broncos are in the middle of their own offensive reset after promoting Davis Webb to offensive coordinator, a move that followed the dismissal of Joe Lombardi after Denver’s AFC Championship Game loss.
So the timing is notable:
Denver is reshaping its offensive brain trust.
The Chargers are adding an experienced former Broncos OC to their offensive room.
And Broncos-Chargers games are always loaded with “who knows who” coaching cross-currents.
In other words: even if Gase isn’t calling plays, divisional familiarity is never nothing.
What’s up with “Adam Gase eyes”?
Yes, the internet is doing the thing again.
Gase is still widely remembered as the coach famous for his “Adam Gase eyes” — the meme that exploded during his 2019 Jets introductory press conference, when viewers fixated on his intense, wide-eyed look.
As far as a real explanation: there’s no verified medical or official reason that credibly explains it. Most of what’s out there is just commentary about intensity, camera angles, nerves, or people projecting meaning onto a viral moment, not actual reporting.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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