It seems like it was yesterday when the Los Angeles Chargers swung for the fences and brought in home-run hire Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach. Time really flies, because not only was that not yesterday, but the Chargers have lost two Wild Card games since that day. Now, LA will go into Year 3 of the Harbaugh era hoping things will be different.
It is clear that Harbaugh is a great coach, and nobody is denying that. But the narratives in the NFL are very results-driven. Despite getting the Chargers to the playoffs in his first two seasons in LA, they have fallen flat both times. If the Chargers don't leap forward in 2026, there may be some uncomfortable conversations at season's end.
Jim Harbaugh needs to move the needle
It is fair to say that the Wild Card losses were not entirely his fault and he should be praised for getting the Chargers there. But it is now time to move past making it to the playoffs and focus on making a meaningful run instead. If the Chargers flatline again in 2026, the media is going to start to question Harbaugh's future in LA.
Now, should they? Probably not. But again, this league is very much so "what have you done for me lately?", and if Harbaugh doesn't have a good answer, there could be some problems. It is unfair to say that he should lose his job, but there are strides that need to be made.
Harbaugh is completely capable of taking a team to the Super Bowl. We saw him do it with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 47, where he lost to his brother, John Harbaugh, who coached the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chargers have dealt with injuries and key players struggling in their losses, which is not Jim's fault. But, when people look at a possible third straight Wild Card loss, they won't see the whole picture.
Harbaugh should succeed in Year 3
Obviously, Jim Harbaugh's third season with the Chargers is going to be crucial for his future in LA. If Harbaugh can right the ship and take the Bolts to the next level, fans are going to feel much better about the window of success under Harbaugh.
Luckily, Harbaugh has more than enough help to do so in 2026. With Mike McDaniel coming in as the offensive coordinator, the sky is the limit with Justin Herbert and a healthy offensive line. The upgrade from Greg Roman to McDaniel will be apparent on day one. Harbaugh does not need to worry about the offense anymore.
The Chargers also have plenty of avenues to improve the team before the season starts. The Chargers have drafted pretty well over the last few years, picking out guys like Omarion Hampton and Ladd McConkey, and the 2026 NFL Draft is around the corner. LA also sits on a decent load of cap space, so Harbaugh can get some more contributors in free agency.