At the end of his second season, it's safe to say Jim Harbaugh's tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers has been disappointing so far.
The team has made the playoffs in both seasons only to be wiped off the field by their opponents. Injuries have gotten in the way of the team fielding their ideal roster, and sub-par schematic adjustments on the offensive side of the ball have limited their ceiling.
Harbaugh doesn't call plays on offense or defense, making him more of "CEO" head coach. The blame for the Chargers' shortcomings, therefore, must fall partially on his organizational decision-making.
The New England Patriots, who completed a head-spinning turnaround en route to the Super Bowl this season, provide a blueprint for Los Angeles moving forward. They also shine a painful spotlight on where Harbaugh's Chargers tenure has fallen short so far.
Mike Vrabel is the model of a "CEO" head coach, and his successes highlight Harbaugh's missteps
Los Angeles doesn't necessarily need a turnaround of the Patriots' magnitude. In 2024, New England finished tied for the third-worst record in the AFC. Although Drake Maye showed signs of promise in his rookie season, it was clear the roster around him wasn't talented enough.
Head coach Jerod Mayo was fired after just one season, and Vrabel was brought in to attempt to get the organization back on track. He success has been highly impressive.
He, firstly, made the right hirings across his staff, bringing in Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator and Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator. Although Williams has missed much of the season with personal health issues, Vrabel has done an excellent job integrating Zak Kuhr as the team's interim replacement.
He also had a large say in who New England brought in through free agency. The Patriots splurged in an attempt to improve their roster, bringing Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, K'Lavon Chaisson, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and a host of other experienced players into the fold.
Vrabel has also shown an aptitude for creative in-game decision-making throughout his career, as he showed with his lengthy substitutions in the final minutes of their Wild Card Round matchup against the Chargers.
In short, Vrabel made all the right decisions. As much hope as he has provided, Harbaugh hasn't.
His hiring of Greg Roman was an undeniable failure, and many of the team's free agency decisions from the past two offseasons have been somewhat questionable. Perhaps this offseason, with new coordinators and ample cap space, could represent a fresh opportunity for Harbaugh.
If he can pull off even a semblance of what Vrabel's done in New England, the Chargers could soon be in serious contention for their own Super Bowl run.