With new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in the fold, the expectations (generally) couldn't be higher for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2026.
2025, while marred by a series of insurmountable injuries across the offense, was also defined by the lack of answers Greg Roman had to dominant run-defending teams. Not only does McDaniel have the schematic pedigree to overcome those deficits, but the organization has furnished him with the weapons he needs to accomplish that goal.
There are the obvious breakout candidates under McDaniel's outside zone-heavy scheme. Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell should get the chance to leverage their burst and athleticism on a routine basis. All three of Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, and Oronde Gadsden II should also play major roles as McDaniel goes to 12 and 13 personnel more often. Even Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris should see major gains from McDaniel's YAC-centric passing game.
But lost in all of that is the one player who will truly help McDaniel unlock the foundations of what he wants to accomplish on offense— fullback Alec Ingold.
Ingold signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the Chargers this offseason. If Los Angeles is set to take the leap into 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR) that ESPN analyst Matt Bowen projects, Ingold could quickly become one of the offense's most important chess pieces.
Alec Ingold could be the key to unlocking Mike McDaniel's 21 personnel approach
In Bowen's recent piece on schematic trends across the NFL, he highlighted the Chargers as a team that could take a major leap in their usage of 21 personnel, using Ingold as a lead blocker in the run game and opening up additional versatility against base defensive looks.
"With Mike McDaniel joining as the new offensive coordinator and the team signing former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, the Chargers should see a steady increase in 21 personnel snaps. (There could also be more 12 or 13 personnel looks after they signed tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku.) Last season, McDaniel's offense in Miami ran 234 snaps of 21 personnel (second most)." Matt Bowen, ESPN
Ingold comes in not only as a familiar face to McDaniel, having spent the past four seasons under him in MIami, but also as a major upgrade over the team's previous fullback, Scott Matlock. Matlock is still on the roster, and it seems as though the Chargers want to use him as a Y-tight end. But Ingold is both a better pass-catcher and a more consistent and physical blocker.
His presence in the backfield should allow McDaniel to turn to 21 personnel, likely pairing Ingold with Hampton or Mitchell, as often as he sees fit. As Bowen mentions, Miami used 21 personnel at a rate of 24.66% last season— the second-highest in the league only behind the San Francisco 49ers, per Sumer Sports.. The Chargers used it at the sixth-highest rate in 2025, but that amounted to just 10.96% of their total snaps.
Ingold's signing (and McDaniel's overall schematic preferences) should allow them to go to that grouping much more often, opening up a versatility in the run game that Los Angeles simply didn't have under Roman.
Ingold likely won't make very many flashy plays this season. But when he's carving out rushing lanes on the outside for Hampton and Mitchell, his signing could prove to be one of the most important of the offseason.
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