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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh
The Los Angeles Chargers have made coaching staff changes, adding some new faces.
LA has hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to be the new offensive coordinator to pair with Justin Herbert. Former New York Jets head coach has been added as the pass gass coordinator. Chris O’Leary has been hired as the new defensive coordinator after Jesse Minter was hired to become the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
With the season officially over and the coaching staff set, the team can prepare the roster for the 2026 season and hopes to pass the AFC wildcard round.
Getting Justin Herbert Super Bowl Help
GettyJustin Herbert may get some more time to throw the ball next season
Injuries and poor performances gave the Los Angeles Chargers one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL — Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times in the season, the third most in the league.
The Chargers have the resources to strengthen their O-line and could turn it into one of the best in the league next season.
Los Angeles will have the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and will have around $94 million in cap space, which is more than enough to make a major improvement.
ESPN predicts the Chargers will use a significant portion of the cap space to go out and find some O-lineman who can protect Herbert.
” The Chargers will blow their free agency budget on [Pittsburgh] Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo. Despite turning 33 next season, he is still playing at a high level. Seumalo ranked second among all guards with a 96.9% pass block win rate this season,” Aaron Schatz wrote.
Seamulo was one of the best pass-protection guards in the NFL last season, receiving a 78.5 pass protection grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks him as the fourth best out of 81 qualifying.
The offensive lineman won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles and has also featured in seven playoff runs throughout his career.
PFF projects the guard will receive a one-year, $8 million deal, naming Seamulo as the 17th best available free agent for the upcoming offseason.
Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are set to return next season, which could protect Herbert on the edges.
Jim Harbaugh Acknowledges Offensive Line Troubles
GettyJim Harbaugh kept it honest on the Chargers’ offensive line issues
The Bolts parted ways with former offensive coordinator Greg Roman after two poor playoff performances with LA.
In both games as OC, Roman and the Bolts mustered up a combined 15 points compared to the opponents’ 48 points.
Roman was let go after the loss in this year’s AFC wildcard, with Jim Harbaugh getting honest about the offensive line.
“A fresh start, a new direction,” Harbaugh said, via the Chargers. “Greg is a great football mind, had a lot of success. Also a fresh start for him, fresh start for our team and our offense… There was much that was done well…”
“Multiple [offensive] line combinations, that was true. It was very hard, very tough. The NFL is unforgiving, it’s unfair, it’s hard, that’s the nature of the business… It starts with Justin… The people that want to work with him that have that same urgency that we have.”
Herbert has done the best he can with a damaged offensive line, which is why he earned an MVP vote.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
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