February 6, 2026
Former New York Jets and Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has emerged as a possibility to be hired by the Los Angeles Chargers in an offensive assistant coach role, sources told Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Gase last coached in the NFL in 2020 when he was with the Jets. Before his head-coaching days, he was an offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos. Gase last coached in 2019 and 2020 with the Jets. He was the Dolphins' head coach from 2016 to 2018. The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman at the end of the 2025 season and replaced him with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. In his time as a head coach, Gase went 32-48. He was also an offensive assistant with the Detroit Lions from 2005 to 2007 and with the San Francisco 49ers in 2008.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
January 29, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers are hiring Western Michigan defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary as their defensive coordinator on Thursday, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN. O'Leary will be returning to the Chargers after working under Jesse Minter as the safeties coach in 2024. Before working in L.A., he coached the secondary at Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman. O'Leary is replacing Minter, who got the head-coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent six seasons with the Fighting Irish, and his defense at Western Michigan was one of the best scoring defenses in college football in 2025. While this isn't the sexiest hire for the Chargers, it makes sense because of O'Leary's already deep knowledge of the team's roster on the defensive side. When he was with the Bolts in 2024, they led the league in scoring defense and allowed just 17.7 points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 28, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston took his fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in his third year in the league in 2025. The former first-rounder had five touchdown catches in the first four weeks of the season before cooling off and being extremely boom or bust the rest of the way. The 24-year-old was third on the team with 735 receiving yards, which was a new career high for Johnston. He had 51 catches on 84 targets and also scored eight total touchdowns for the second straight season in 14 regular-season contests. Even if it wasn't much of a step forward for Johnston in Year 3, it was encouraging that he showed more chemistry with quarterback
Justin Herbert. The Chargers' entire offense could look much different under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026, but it could help Johnston be more consistent as a downfield threat.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers are requesting to interview Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard for their vacant defensive-coordinator position, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Leonhard has also received interest from the Buffalo Bills, among other teams. The Chargers are looking for a new defensive coordinator after Jesse Minter left to become the next head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Leonhard has done a standout job with the Broncos' defense, one of the best units in the NFL, as they allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game (187.2) during the 2025 regular season. The Chargers' defense was sneaky good this past season, too, allowing the seventh-fewest yards per play and the fifth-lowest offensive success rate. Leonhard will have a lot to work with if he chooses to go to L.A.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 27, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after another early playoff exit and hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to take over. The Chargers need to get healthy on the offensive line first and foremost, but the move to McDaniel should be great news for the fantasy outlook of quarterback
Justin Herbert in 2026. One of the first things that McDaniel hopes to do is to craft an offense that doesn't rely as much on Herbert's individual talents, such as scrambling and making miraculous plays outside of the pocket. "I think not relying too heavily on Justin's ability to do above and beyond, I think is critical to maximize those types of opportunities," McDaniel said. "That'll be one of the first things that we'll try to do is take a little off his plate so that he is free to do that when his greatness is required." Herbert went over 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three seasons, but he hasn't been able to do it the last three years. He finished as the QB10 in overall fantasy points in 2025. With McDaniel in the fold, Herbert should have more upside to reach his true ceiling.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 27, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Omarion Hampton battled through an injury-marred rookie season in 2025, playing in just nine out of 17 games. However, the 22-year-old was productive when healthy, recording 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 156 touches. Beyond just improved health, there are reasons to think that the offensive environment around Hampton in Los Angeles in 2026 will be enhanced. For one, Chargers offensive tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) should be back in the lineup after the two combined to play just six games in 2025. Additionally, Los Angeles will have a new play-caller after moving on from former offensive coordinator Greg Roman and hiring former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. During his tenure in Miami, McDaniel consistently showed an ability to boost running back production. Under McDaniel, Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 60 receptions, 1,400 scrimmage yards, and double-digit touchdowns. Fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty formats should view Hampton as a high-upside running back option heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 27, 2026
After an excellent rookie season in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey posted a relatively disappointing sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games played, the 24-year-old recorded 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. McConkey's production fell off sharply down the stretch of the season, as he recorded just one game with more than 40 receiving yards after Week 10. After losing in the AFC Wild Card Round to the New England Patriots, the Chargers decided to move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman, replacing him with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. While McDaniel's tenure in Miami went downhill over the last couple of seasons, he coached the Dolphins to top-five offenses by measure of total passing yardage in both 2022 and 2023. By contrast, Roman-coached teams have never finished better than 13th in passing yardage in any of his 12 seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator. Given the change in offensive infrastructure around him, McConkey could be in line for a bounce-back season in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers and defensive tackle Teair Tart agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension on Monday, a source told Kris Rhim of ESPN. Tart's deal includes $20 million in guarantees. General manager Joe Hortiz and the Bolts have gone to work quickly this offseason to begin patching up what was one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2025. Tart emerged as one of L.A.'s most important players this past season, and he came away with the best year of his career. His 12 run stops ranked seventh in the NFL and first on the team. In the Wild-Card loss to the New England Patriots, Tart deflected a pass that led to an interception, had his first sack since 2024, and had two tackles for loss. The Chargers are expected to look into contracts to retain outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack next.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
January 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers officially hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, a source told Daniel Popper of The Athletic. McDaniel and the Chargers agreed on a deal almost a week ago, but he was still holding out hope of landing another head-coaching job. The Chargers will introduce McDaniel in the coming days as he takes over for previous OC Greg Roman. The Dolphins fired McDaniel after he led the team to a 7-10 record in 2025, and he immediately became a popular head-coaching candidate and potential OC around the league. He should bring some creativity to the Chargers' offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh after they fell short again in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs with a loss to the New England Patriots. The hiring of McDaniel should be good news for quarterback
Justin Herbert.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
January 23, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers have requested to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr for their vacant defensive-coordinator job, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Orr has been the Ravens' DC for the last two seasons and previously worked alongside former Chargers DC Jesse Minter, who became the new head coach of the Ravens on Thursday. The Ravens defense ranked ninth in points allowed in 2024, but they fell to 18th in that category under Orr in 2025 and also ranked 24th in yards allowed. Meanwhile, the Chargers' defense ranked ninth in points per game (20) and fifth in total yards allowed per game (285.2) under Minter. Orr still has a lot to prove as a defensive coordinator, but if he heads to L.A. to coach under another Harbaugh, he'll have a strong base to work with in what was one of the most underrated defenses in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 20, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is expected to become the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive coordinator, barring a change of heart, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McDaniel has informed other teams that he's out of the running, and he's scheduled to have dinner with the Chargers on Tuesday night. In L.A., McDaniel will be replacing Greg Roman. It will be quite the scheme change for the Bolts, going from a run-first offensive mind in Roman to McDaniel, who runs a version of Kyle Shanahan's offense in San Francisco. McDaniel went 35-33 with two playoff appearances in his four seasons in Miami, and he'll now join a Chargers team that has two 11-win seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh. The addition of McDaniel in L.A. should be good news for both quarterback
Justin Herbert and young running back
Omarion Hampton heading into next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 19, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was requested to interview for the Los Angeles Chargers' vacant offensive coordinator position, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Smith has generated significant OC interest around the league and is also a head-coaching candidate for a few teams. The Steelers averaged their most points under Smith in 2025 since the 2020 season, and he also had a top-five offense back when he was the OC for the Tennessee Titans. Smith is unlikely to return to the Steel City in 2026 after long-time head coach Mike Timlin resigned last week. The former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons is known for running plenty of two-tight-end sets and a run-first offense, which wouldn't be a big departure from previous Chargers OC Greg Roman.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 16, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers confirmed on Friday that they have interviewed former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan for their offensive-coordinator position, according to Omar Navarro of Chargers.com. Callahan was the head coach for Tennessee in 2024 and 2025 before being fired midseason this year. Before joining the Titans, Callahan had 14 years of coaching experience in the NFL, including five seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' OC after being hired in 2019. With Cincy, he helped the team to two AFC North titles, two AFC Championship appearances, and a trip to a Super Bowl. The Bengals' offense ranked among the top units in his final three years at the helm, but he wasn't able to get the Titans turned around in his brief stint there. The Bolts are looking to replace Greg Roman. A move to Callahan would be a seismic shift away from a run-heavy offense and toward more of a pass-heavy approach.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chargers.com - Omar Navarro
January 13, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has head-coaching interview requests from the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans, a source told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Minter will interview with the Titans and Cardinals on Tuesday. The Pittsburgh Steelers now have an opening as well after Mike Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday, but it's unclear if they'll have interest in Minter for that job. Minter's defense in L.A. helped lead the team to the postseason for the second straight year, but they fell 16-3 to the New England Patriots on Wild-Card weekend on Sunday night. Due to his strong work with the Chargers' defense the last couple of seasons, Minter has become one of the most popular head-coaching candidates this cycle.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
January 13, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman on Tuesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The move comes two days after an embarrassing offensive performance by Roman's unit in the 16-3 Wild-Card loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night. Quarterback
Justin Herbert was flustered all game behind a bad offensive line, and the running game was virtually non-existent. The Chargers have made the playoffs the last two years with Roman as their play-caller, but they've scored a total of 15 offensive points in those two postseason losses to the Patriots and Houston Texans. In a league that puts a heavy emphasis on throwing the ball, Roman is the last of a dying breed -- a run-first coordinator who believes in letting his offensive linemen to come off the ball and play downhill as blockers. In the end, injuries to key players on the O-line in L.A. didn't give Roman much of a chance.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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