No question, the Chargers have high hopes and lofty expectations going into the 2026 season. As ever, the question is whether they can meet them or even exceed them. Judging by a busy offseason and a successful training camp, they would seem better equipped for success.
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Here are five questions that could determine the Chargers’ success in the 2026 season:
Can QB Justin Herbert finally reach his max potential?
Mike McDaniel is the Chargers’ fifth offensive coordinator in Herbert’s seven seasons in the NFL, arriving with much fanfare to replace Greg Roman in January. It’s safe to assume the Chargers’ offense will be much more dynamic with McDaniel calling the plays for Herbert.
At least that’s what we saw while McDaniel was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the past four seasons. The Dolphins’ offense was stellar at times with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and De’Von Achane at running back over the better part of 2022 through 2025.
Herbert hasn’t passed for 4,000 yards in any of the past three seasons after topping the mark in each of his first three, including a Chargers record 5,014 yards during the 2021 season. Part of the problem last season was protection – as in, the Chargers didn’t block well enough for him.
Will the ground game finally take flight under McDaniel’s guidance?
Of equal or greater importance for McDaniel is establishing a productive run game, which the Chargers have had only intermittently since Melvin Gordon became the franchise’s last running back to top 1,000 yards in a season when he rushed for 1,105 during the 2017 season.
If the game plan is sound, the blocking is effective and the running backs stay upright and healthy, this could be the season the run game works well in tandem with the pass game. Omarion Hampton will be the featured back with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal as his backups.
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How much will ex-defensive coordinator Jesse Minter be missed this season?
The Chargers hired Chris O’Leary to replace Minter, who was hired as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach in January after establishing the Chargers as one of the NFL’s toughest defenses to score on. The Chargers were the league’s stingiest in 2024 and ninth-best in ’25 under Minter.
O’Leary didn’t appear to change much of what the Chargers had done in the past two seasons, and with the exception of the addition of defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, the starters are unchanged. Outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu had a team-leading 13 sacks last season.
Is an AFC West championship really in play this season?
Some pundits expect the Chargers to finish third in an ultra-competitive AFC West this season, taking a step back after consecutive 11-win seasons and playoff appearances in Jim Harbaugh’s first two seasons as coach. Others have picked them to win the division for the first time since 2009. Who’s right? No one can say for certain. At this point, anything is possible.
Can the Chargers avoid serious injuries to key players?
They have already suffered one season-ending injury with Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz sustaining an ACL tear in training camp, so the answer is no.
The offensive line was never at its healthiest last season, after Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp and Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt followed him to the sideline for the rest of the season because of an ankle injury in Week 9.
As a result, Herbert was never as productive as he could have been, running for his professional life at times. Herbert was sacked 54 times, the most in his career. He was sacked an additional six times in the Chargers’ wild-card playoff loss to the New England Patriots, a dreary 16-3 defeat.
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