The LA Chargers have long been one of the bottom-ranked teams in the NFLPA's annual report cards. That changed in 2024 with the arrival of Jim Harbaugh.
Los Angeles went from being the 30th-ranked team in the NFL to the fifth-ranked team in 2024's report cards. A team that has been known for bad facilities and less-than-ideal conditions is now regarded as one of the best in the league.
This has a direct impact not just on the Chargers' immediate performance in the short term. By righting the ship, the Chargers are ensuring long-term success that can last even after Harbaugh calls it a career as an NFL head coach.
Full Chargers report card on NFLPA survey:
- Treatment of facilities: C
- Food/dining area: A-
- Nutritionist/dietician: B+
- Locker room: A
- Training room: A-
- Training staff: A-
- Weight room: A+
- Strength coaches: A
- Team travel: C+
- Head coach: B+
- Ownership: A
There are many changes Harbaugh helped implement that had a direct impact on this improvement. Harbaugh brought former Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert, who has had an instant impact on how the team operates, along with him.
Herbert's impact is directly responsible for the team's great scores in strength coaches and weight room. With him came a philosophy that likely bleeds over into the training staff and the training room as well.
It is not all because of Harbaugh, though. The Chargers also moved into their state-of-the-art facility during training camp. The new facility may have had just as big of an impact as Harbaugh, and will continue having a positive impact for the Chargers for years to come.
And as much as fans have clashed with ownership in the past, the Spanos family deserves immense credit for the turnaround on this report card. There has been a real shift in recent years with the team willing to pay big money to hire a prominent head coach and pay big money to open a state-of-the-art facility.
Fans may not like Dean Spanos because of baggage that goes back to the team's days in San Diego but it is clear the players respect what he is doing. Spanos received the fifth-highest grade among all owners in the NFL. That matters.