Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh looking for 'fresh start' on offense after firing longtime OC

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2026-01-17

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In his six seasons as an NFL head coach in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh has had one offensive coordinator, Greg Roman. That will change in 2026 with the Chargers firing Roman this week.

After back-to-back playoff debacles in which the offense put up a total of 15 points, including a single touchdown, Harbaugh said he’s looking for a new direction to lead the offense.

“A fresh start, a new direction,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s official website. “Greg is a great football mind, had a lot of success. Also a fresh start for him, fresh start for our team and our offense.”

The Chargers ranked 20th in points per game (21.6) and 12th in yards per game (333.8) in 2025, with red-zone struggles epitomizing the unit, including in Sunday’s playoff loss.

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There were excuses on the table for the lack of success under Roman, particularly an offensive line that lost both Pro Bowl offensive tackles, going through 29 starting combinations, and a backfield that dealt with injuries. However, Harbaugh refused to lean on those reasons to bring back his OC, noting that playoff success is the ultimate decider.

“There was much that was done well, much that was done really good,” Harbaugh said. “Multiple [offensive] line combinations, that was true. It was very hard, very tough. The NFL is unforgiving, it’s unfair, it’s hard, that’s the nature of the business.

“What we feel like is a direction that’s going to make us better, we’re always striving for that. Whether that’s with players, coaches, myself included. It’s a results-oriented business.”

Harbaugh and Roman enjoyed success during their first run with the 49ers (2011-2014), but the league has changed much since then, and the Chargers’ offense needs a new voice to get Justin Herbert and crew to the next level.

“It starts with Justin. The respect, the people that want to work with him that have that same urgency that we have, I think it’s genuine they see it the same way,” Harbaugh said. “Justin’s as good, as smart as they come. I have no questions about his ability as a player. He’s not looking to be the GM or the coach. It’s our responsibility to put him in the best position possible.”