The Chargers are 0-6 after a 22-6 loss to the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. The last time the Los Angeles Chargers started 0-6 was in 2000, when they finished 1-15. A season full of high expectations has gotten off to an unimaginably disappointing start. It’s hard to imagine the roster or staff won’t change in the near future.
The Season So Far
Chris O’Leary has done an adequate job filling the void left by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s departure. The Chargers’ defense ranks 5th in the league in 3rd-down defense, 6th in red-zone defense, and 9th in passing defense. Anyone who watches Chargers football knows that the defense isn’t the problem. The defense has given the offense a shot to win in almost every game this year, even with the Chargers allowing the worst average starting defensive field position in the NFL at their own 39.5-yard line.
On the other side of the ball, Mike McDaniel’s offense looks disjointed every week. The Chargers offense currently ranks at the bottom of the league in almost every category.
Expected Points Added (EPA) per play: 32nd
Average Offensive Starting Field Position: 32nd
Points Per Game (15.0): 30th
Injuries have hit the offense hard. Starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have missed multiple weeks with injuries, with no timetable for their return. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been dealing with a rib injury he sustained in Week 1 and was ruled out midway through the second quarter with a concussion in Week 6.
However, even when healthy, the offense has remained disjointed. Pre-snap penalties, dropped passes, and incomprehensible Justin Herbert interceptions, now totaling eight, have become a weekly occurrence.
Pressure on Harbaugh and Co. Mounts
Shortly after Sunday’s defeat, Jim Harbaugh was asked about his team’s 0-6 start to the season.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said. “The job I’m doing, it starts with me. The plan is to watch this and get with our offensive coaches.” Harbaugh continued by saying, “Obviously, 0-6 going into the bye, I did not think I would be up here addressing that question; I truly believed and was confident we’d win this game. We have to address everything, especially offensively. We’re not scoring enough points.”
This is the first time Harbaugh has alluded to potentially making responsibility changes among his staff this season. As the Chargers continue to struggle, analysts and fans alike have increasingly called for changes to the coaching staff, believing that a shake-up may be necessary to get the team back on track. Fortunately, he’ll have some extra time to make any decisions as the Bolts are entering their bye week before taking on the Rams in SoFi Stadium in Week 8.
Something Has to Change
The Los Angeles Chargers have officially entered the point of no return. They are 0-6, and upcoming games include the likes of the Rams, Texans, and Ravens. With a very real possibility of starting 0-9, the Chargers can’t wait to adjust. Consistent team struggles have made it impossible to justify keeping the roster/front office intact while expecting different results.
The Chargers entered the 2026 offseason with an estimated $85M in cap space, the 4th most in the league. General manager Joe Hortiz had plenty of options in free agency, but ultimately decided not to. This decision immediately came back to bite him as the Chargers are once again decimated by injuries and lacking depth in numerous positions. Cap space alone does not guarantee success, but it places some blame on Hortiz for not doing enough to bolster the lineup and address the team’s weaknesses.
The problems extend to the coaching staff, particularly to offensive coordinator McDaniel. With his offense struggling in the majority of categories, his job is most in question. McDaniel simply has not found a way to unlock Justin Herbert’s potential and deliver results.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike Florio commented on the situation. “The next move very well could be a separation from employment of first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel,” Mike Florio writes. “There’s a growing buzz that the Chargers will be making that move soon. Pass game specialist Adam Gase, a former head coach of the Jets and Dolphins, is expected to take over if McDaniel is fired.”
Time to Correct
With a Week 7 bye, the Chargers are at a logical point in their season to make a real change. Whether that means moving on from McDaniel or making another big change within the organization, the time for patience has passed. Someone has to be held accountable if this team wants to turn this season around.
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