Justin Herbert (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images)
This is year three of the Jim Harbaugh era, a stretch that began with championship talk but has produced back-to-back 11-win seasons and back-to-back postseason exits without a playoff win for Justin Herbert. Despite the regular-season success, Harbaugh fired his only offensive coordinator through two NFL head-coaching stints, Greg Roman, and replaced him with Mike McDaniel, the innovative former Miami Dolphins head coach. The defense also gets a new voice, with Chris O’Leary stepping in for Jesse Minter, who left to become the Ravens’ head coach after building a unit that went from the bottom of the league to a top-five defense. Training camp runs from July 29 to Aug. 25 at The Bolt in El Segundo, and the goal this year is straightforward: Herbert’s first playoff win, at minimum.
Can McDaniel finally unlock Herbert?
For two seasons, the Chargers’ offense has been predictable and stagnant when it mattered most, and Herbert has often had to be a hero behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines just to keep the team competitive. McDaniel’s system is built to create easy, high-percentage throws through motion and tempo rather than asking Herbert to carry the offense on straight dropbacks. The Chargers also finally addressed the speed problem that has plagued their skill positions for years, adding burner Brenen Thompson in the fourth round to provide a legitimate vertical threat. Ladd McConkey, whose production dipped last season while sharing the field with Keenan Allen, is now positioned as Herbert’s clear No. 1 target, while Quentin Johnston and physical route-runner Tre’ Harris round out a receiver room with real speed and size variety for the first time in years. Running back Omarion Hampton, who flashed as a rookie despite injuries, adds home-run-hitting complement Keaton Mitchell to the backfield, while tight ends David Njoku, Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden give McDaniel real flexibility in heavier personnel packages.
The line finally gets healthy, mostly
Everything for this offense starts with tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, both of whom suffered season-ending injuries in 2025 and are back after full offseasons of rehab. Together they form one of the more talented tackle tandems in the league when healthy, with Slater’s footwork suited perfectly to McDaniel’s zone-stretch scheme and Alt’s power holding down the right side. Free-agent center Tyler Biadasz, rated a top-10 center by Pro Football Focus last season, steps in as a stabilizing veteran presence, and Herbert has already praised the early chemistry: “I could tell immediately as soon as he snapped the first ball that there was not going to be any issues.” Guard Cole Strange reunites with McDaniel after starting 14 games for him in Miami. The lone unsettled spot is left guard, where second-round pick Jake Slaughter, a college center making his first attempt at guard, is in a rotation with veterans Trevor Penning and Kayode Awosika. Coach Jim Harbaugh has made clear the competition won’t be settled until pads come on: “When the pads come on, that will be decided.”
A defense replacing its architect
O’Leary inherits Minter’s scheme largely intact, built around disguised post-snap rotations and simulated pressures, and the personnel gives him plenty to work with. Edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is coming off a 13-sack season and enters a contract year without a new deal in place, raising the possibility of a camp holdout if Los Angeles doesn’t get something done soon. Veteran Khalil Mack anchors the other edge, with first-round rookie Akheem Mesidor added to fill the pass-rush void left by Odafe Oweh’s departure in free agency. Safety Derwin James Jr. remains the engine of the secondary as a do-everything defender who spends most of his snaps near the line of scrimmage, while linebacker Junior Colson, a national champion under Harbaugh at Michigan, tries to carve out a bigger role after an injury-limited 2025. Cornerback Donte Jackson brings ball-hawking instincts to a young corner group featuring Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
Full 2026 Los Angeles Chargers scheduleWeekDateOpponentTime (ET)TV1Sept. 13vs. Arizona Cardinals4:25 p.m.CBS2Sept. 20vs. Las Vegas Raiders4:05 p.m.CBS3Sept. 27at Buffalo Bills1 p.m.FOX4Oct. 4at Seattle Seahawks4:25 p.m.CBS5Oct. 11vs. Denver Broncos4:05 p.m.CBS6Oct. 18at Kansas City Chiefs4:25 p.m.CBS7—BYE——8Nov. 1at Los Angeles Rams4:05 p.m.FOX9Nov. 8vs. Houston Texans4:05 p.m.CBS10Nov. 16at Baltimore Ravens8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABC11Nov. 22vs. New York Jets4:05 p.m.FOX12Nov. 29vs. New England Patriots8:20 p.m.NBC13Dec. 6at Tampa Bay Buccaneers1 p.m.CBS14Dec. 13at Las Vegas Raiders4:05 p.m.CBS15Dec. 17vs. San Francisco 49ers8:15 p.m.Prime Video16Dec. 27at Miami Dolphins1 p.m.FOX17TBDvs. Kansas City ChiefsTBDTBD18TBDat Denver BroncosTBDTBD
Los Angeles’ preseason opens on the road against Houston on Aug. 13, followed by home games against San Francisco and the Rams.
Chargers odds and best bets for 2026
At BetRivers, Los Angeles is priced at +1700 to win the Super Bowl. The Chargers are favored to reach the playoffs, priced at -180 against +145 to miss the postseason. Los Angeles’ regular-season win total sits at 9.5, with the Over priced at -148 and the Under at +120. In the AFC West, the Chargers are priced to finish first at +185.
BetRivers also offers several combo props tied to the retooled offense. Justin Herbert throwing for 4,000-plus yards combined with the Chargers winning the AFC West is priced at +600. Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston each topping 1,000 receiving yards sits at +1100, while Omarion Hampton topping 1,250 rushing yards combined with Los Angeles reaching the playoffs is priced at +525.
Check RG.org’s NFL sportsbooks hub throughout the season for updated lines and matchup previews.
Final outlook
Los Angeles has the talent and, for the first time in years, the offensive scheme and skill-position speed to match Herbert’s ability. The tackle tandem of Slater and Alt returning healthy is the single biggest swing factor for the season, and a disruptive defense anchored by Derwin James and a strong pass-rush group gives the Chargers a real floor even if the offense needs time to gel. With realistic expectations of 11-plus wins if health cooperates, the only question that matters for this roster is whether all of it finally translates into the postseason win that has eluded Herbert and Harbaugh together.