Adam Gase is back in the NFL spotlight. After a five-year absence from the sidelines, the 47-year-old coach has landed with the Los Angeles Chargers as their new assistant coach overseeing the passing game. The official move, confirmed on February 9, 2026, marks a dramatic return for Gase, whose coaching journey has seen both dazzling highs and some tough lows.

Gase’s name has long been associated with innovative offensive football. Once considered one of the NFL’s brightest young minds, he first made waves as the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, working closely with Peyton Manning during the team’s record-setting offensive run in 2013 and 2014. Back then, the Broncos led the league in points per game, and Gase’s reputation soared. “He’s back: After a five-year hiatus, Adam Gase returns to coaching in the NFL, joining the #Chargers as an assistant focusing on the passing game, sources say,” reported NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

But the journey hasn’t always been smooth. Gase’s tenure as a head coach was a mixed bag. He took the reins in Miami in 2016 at just 37 years old, making him the youngest head coach in the league at the time. The Dolphins responded with a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in his first season—a remarkable turnaround from their previous 6-10 campaign. However, the magic faded. Miami finished 6-10 and 7-9 in the following two years, ranking 24th or worse in total offense each season. The Dolphins let him go after the 2018 season, and Gase soon landed with the New York Jets.

New York hoped Gase would ignite the offense and develop quarterback Sam Darnold, but the results were disappointing. The Jets finished 7-9 in Gase’s first year, then plummeted to 2-14 in 2020, starting the season with a franchise-worst 0-13 record. The offense languished at the bottom of the league, and Gase was dismissed immediately after the season ended. His head coaching record now stands at 32-49, including a single playoff appearance in 2016.

So what’s changed, and why are the Chargers betting on Gase now? For starters, the Chargers’ coaching staff has undergone a significant overhaul following their own postseason disappointment—a 16-3 wild-card loss to the New England Patriots. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman was fired and replaced by Mike McDaniel, himself a former Dolphins head coach. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter departed for the Baltimore Ravens’ head coaching job, with Chris O’Leary stepping in from Western Michigan.

Gase is expected to fill the role previously held by Marcus Brady, who is now with the Ravens as their passing game coordinator. The Chargers have also brought in Butch Barry as offensive line coach and Max McCaffrey to handle running backs, signaling a fresh start for the offensive staff under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Chargers fans are eager to see how Gase’s offensive expertise will mesh with the team’s talented roster, especially quarterback Justin Herbert. The 27-year-old Herbert, a two-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year, has become the face of the franchise. Last season, he threw for 3,727 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions—even playing through a fractured left hand late in the year. Despite Herbert’s individual brilliance, the Chargers finished just 18th in passing yards and failed to produce a single 800-yard receiver. Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen led the way with over 700 yards each, but the team’s aerial attack lacked the explosiveness needed to compete with the NFL’s elite.

Gase’s arrival is meant to change that. He’ll work closely with Herbert, as well as backup quarterbacks Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei, to maximize the passing game’s potential. The hope is that Gase can tap into the same creative energy that propelled the Broncos to offensive dominance a decade ago. According to ESPN, “Gase was regarded as one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds when the Dolphins hired him as head coach in 2016.”

It’s not just about X’s and O’s, though. Gase’s journey has given him a wealth of experience across various NFL franchises. He started his career as an offensive assistant with the Detroit Lions in 2005, quickly moving up to quarterbacks coach by 2007. After a stint with the San Francisco 49ers, he joined the Broncos, where he coached wide receivers, quarterbacks, and eventually became offensive coordinator. His time with Jay Cutler in Chicago as offensive coordinator in 2015 was less spectacular—the Bears ranked 17th in offensive points per game—but it showcased his adaptability and willingness to tailor schemes to his personnel.

Following his head coaching stints, Gase spent time away from the game, working with football think tank The 33rd Team alongside Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. He was also occasionally seen at Broncos practices, thanks in part to family ties—his father-in-law, Joe Vitt, is a senior defensive assistant on Sean Payton’s staff.

Now, Gase steps into a Chargers organization hungry for postseason success. Under Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles has made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, as well as in 2022 under former coach Brandon Staley. Yet, all three playoff runs ended in wild-card round exits. The front office hopes that a revamped coaching staff, headlined by the additions of McDaniel and Gase, can finally push the team deeper into January football.

Will Gase’s return to his offensive roots in Los Angeles spark a new era for the Chargers’ passing attack? The answer won’t be clear until the games begin, but the move has certainly energized the fan base and injected fresh intrigue into the AFC West. As the team gears up for the 2026 season, all eyes will be on Herbert, Gase, and the Chargers’ high-powered offense to see if this gamble pays off.

For now, Adam Gase’s NFL comeback is one of the offseason’s most fascinating storylines—a tale of redemption, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of football excellence. With a new staff in place and plenty of weapons on the field, the Chargers are poised to make some noise. Whether Gase can help them finally break through that wild-card ceiling is a question that will keep fans and pundits buzzing as the season approaches.