Adam Gase, a former Detroit Lions assistant and head coach of the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, is back on an NFL staff for the first time since 2020.
Gase is expected to serve as an offensive assistant coach focusing on the passing game for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Michigan native is a Michigan State University and Marshall High School graduate. Gase, 47, hasn’t coached in the NFL since he was dismissed as coach of the Jets in January 2021.
While with the Lions some 20-plus years ago, Gase worked in the scouting department (2003-2005), served as an offensive assistant (2005-2006) and coached the quarterbacks (2007). Gase spoke with MLive back in 2014 while still serving as the offensive coordinator of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos from the Super Bowl that year. He detailed his time at Michigan State and his journey to that point through coaching circles and the NFL.
Gase landed his first NFL head-coaching opportunity with the Dolphins in 2016. He led Miami to a 10-win season and playoff appearance in his first year. But he followed that with 6-10 and 7-9 records the next two seasons and was out after a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills to end the 2018 campaign.
The longtime offensive coach landed on his feet quickly, landing the head job with the Jets to stay in the AFC East and try to get quarterback Sam Darnold’s career on track. But the Jets went 7-9 in his first season, then fell to 2-14 after a 0-13 start in 2020, and Gase was fired after two seasons. Through his five seasons as a head coach, Gase has compiled a 32-48 record with one playoff berth.
Gase will join a new-look offensive coaching staff for Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers. Fellow former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is the team’s new offensive coordinator, and Gase is an experienced name to work with quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ passing attack.