Shortly after the Los Angeles Chargers fell to 0-4 on the season, whispers surfaced suggesting that Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh can be fired during or after the campaign.
The Chargers have fallen to 0-6, and it looks like the start of Week 7 will be the club’s bye First-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel worked his last game as a member of the organization. For a piece updated Wednesday, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN addressed the financial reasons that could cause Chargers ownership to show Harbaugh the door.
“Maintaining excitement” among Chargers fans is a must for Jim Harbaugh
“The future of the Chargers coaching staff was a big talking point this week,” Fowler wrote. “Head coach Jim Harbaugh hasn’t overhauled his offensive staff yet. Change, in some form, is inevitable, but offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was part of Tuesday’s practice. The bigger question looms: What will the Chargers do with Harbaugh if the season continues to sink? It’s not the Chargers’ style to not pay a coach as a coach. A bottom-of-the-league finish will force the Chargers to make some soul-searching, in part because the Chargers don’t generate as much revenue for their home games as other teams do, because they don’t own their home stadium is important in that regard.
On paper, there isn’t much to get excited about the rest of the Chargers’ season. Quarterback Justin Herbert’s play has been so poor that “some around the league” are reportedly wondering if he could be traded to an interested team before the start of the 2027 NFL Draft. Fairly or not, Chargers running backs can blame Harbaugh for how Herbert failed to improve after the signal-caller signed.
a five-year, $262.5M contract extension through the summer of 2023.
How many games does Jim Harbaugh need to win to save his job?
The Chargers failed to produce a touchdown drive in their 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday. It looks like McDaniel won’t be the only Los Angeles coach out of a job this January if that Week 6 contest proves to be a preview of things to come for the 2026 Chargers.
“Harbaugh is coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons, which often prompts a grace period to manage low points,” Fowler added. “That may be the case here. But if the Chargers can’t turn things around and are looking at a 3-14 finish, then what?”
Following their bye, the winless Chargers will be the road team for their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 1. Wondering if Harbaugh will be fired on Nov. morning. 2 if the Rams embarrass the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.