Jan. 13, 2026, 4:42 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Chargers will need another offensive coordinator after firing Greg Roman on Tuesday.
The longtime Jim Harbaugh assistant was let go after Sunday’s dispiriting 16-3 road playoff loss against the New England Patriots.
Roman’s offense grew stale with the Baltimore Ravens some time ago and seemingly grew stale again in Los Angeles. However, the Chargers’ depleted offensive line certainly did not help Roman’s case.
Roman’s exit will open up one of the more coveted coordinator jobs in the league, calling plays for superstar quarterback Justin Herbert. As the Chargers’ offensive line gets healthier, the offense could improve in a big way.
Who could fill Roman’s shoes with Los Angeles? Five names stand out as viable options.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Brian Daboll
Daboll’s impressive OC stint with the Buffalo Bills landed him with the New York Giants. Daboll never had a quarterback like Josh Allen in the Big Apple; Herbert would give the veteran coach his best signal caller to work with since his heydays with Allen in Buffalo. You have to think the Chargers would be mighty intrigued by this fit.
Arthur Smith
If Smith doesn’t stay in Pittsburgh with the Steelers via a promotion or with a new coaching staff, he presents as a viable candidate for the Chargers job. We know Jim Harbaugh loves to run the ball, and Smith has made his name with scheming effective run games in the NFL. He’s also got a knack for improving offensive lines, which could make him a godsend for a team like Los Angeles. Don’t sleep on Smith as a real candidate for the Chargers job.
Kliff Kingsbury
If the Chargers want an offensive coordinator who can take a specialized focus on Herbert’s continued development, Kingsbury is their guy. His work with numerous quarterbacks should land him lots of consideration for an offensive coordinator job. If the Chargers are impressed with his work with the Washington Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels in particular, perhaps Kingsbury gets a look with Los Angeles.
Mike McDaniel
If McDaniel doesn’t land a head coaching job, he will be in high demand as arguably the premiere offensive play-caller available. The Chargers would hit the jackpot having McDaniel lead their offense. Herbert in particular would thrive in a Shanahan-minded offensive scheme. Herbie could probably play his way into the MVP conversation.
Todd Monken
Monken could go from one Harbaugh brother to the other by joining Jim in Los Angeles. He figures to be one of the hottest candidates available for a reason. We’d love to see what kind of offensive scheme he would draw up for Herbert and how he would get the run game going. Monken going to the Chargers makes almost too much sense.