The LA Chargers have experienced a much quicker turnaround in 2024 than anyone was expecting. While hiring Jim Harbaugh opened the door to success in Los Angeles, very few expected a five-win Chargers team to have seven wins through the team's first 10 games.
This success has come not only because of the new culture Harbaugh has established in the locker room but because of several savvy moves from the front office. General manager Joe Hortiz nailed the 2024 NFL Draft and brought in several key players on the roster fringes who are now having big impacts on the team.
The rest of the NFL has certainly taken notice of what the Chargers have accomplished in such a short time in 2024. For that reason, Hortiz's right-hand man, assistant GM Chad Alexander, may end up leaving the team after just one year for a promotion.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler named Alexander, among several others, as one of the most intriguing GM candidates throughout the league, tying him to the vacant New York Jets job because of his previous experience in New York under now-former GM Joe Douglas.
Chargers' assistant GM Chad Alexander could be poached this offseason
The one thing working in the Chargers' favor as far the Jets are concerned is the fact Alexander has firsthand experience in that organization and may want to stay away from the chaos. Alexander leaving for the Chargers created a ripple effect in New York and nobody would blame him for not wanting to work for Woody Johnson again.
The Jets may not be the only team with a GM opening, though. All signs are pointing to Trent Baalke getting the boot in Jacksonville and it also would not be surprising is Joe Schoen was fired up in New York.
If things really start going poorly in Chicago, we could see ownership opt for a complete reset around quarterback Caleb Williams, although Ryan Poles' trade to get Williams in the first place may end up saving his job.
Either way, there is always at least one surprise team that fires its GM in January and Alexander will undoubtedly be in the running for that job when it happens. He was highly sought after when he was in New York and other teams are going to want the same kind of turnaround the Chargers have had this year.
Hortiz will still be running the show so not much should change on the Chargers' front. However, it would be nice for the Chargers to have some kind of stability after several years of turbulence in the previous regime.