Jim Harbaugh seeks an offensive mastermind. Discover seven top contenders vying to lead the Chargers' potent, dynamic attack.
The Los Angeles Chargers need a new offensive coordinator after firing Greg Roman. We have a vague idea of what type of play-caller the team might want to target when looking for his replacement, as well as why an up-and-coming OC might want to come to the Chargers to call plays for Jim Harbaugh.
What we don't have yet, and what I am aiming to put together today, is a list of potential candidates.
That's no easy task, as the potential pool of talent that the team will be digging through is vast and deep. However, we can refer back to some of those articles linked to above and start creating archetypes that fit along with real people.
As the Chargers begin their search for Roman’s replacement, the most important trait to look for is the ability to implement a modern, quarterback-friendly passing attack. Herbert is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the league and should be allowed to consistently drive the offense.
Creativity should be another major point of emphasis. The lack of offensive imagination became even more glaring as injuries along the offensive line piled up. Rather than adjusting, the offense often remained rigid, forcing Herbert to hold the ball longer than necessary behind a compromised line. A new offensive coordinator must be capable of designing game plans that protect the quarterback.
Additionally, adaptability must be a core trait of the next coordinator. The NFL is constantly evolving, and successful offenses adjust weekly based on personnel, opponent tendencies, and in-game situations.
I agree with all three of these points! What I'm hoping to find today is at least one (available) offensive coordinator candidate that has ties to a modern, QB-friendly passing attack and has shown an ability to be creative and adapt while standing on a shifting foundation.
Let's see what options are out there...
Option 1: More of the same
I just want to come right out and say I hate this option, but it will probably at least be considered.....
Marcus Brady is currently the "passing game coordinator" for the Los Angeles Chargers. He's a former QB himself, was an offensive coordinator for two years with the Indianapolis Colts (although I think Frank Reich was maybe calling the plays), and he arrived with Jim Harbaugh after spending a couple seasons with the Eagles.
He'll probably get a shot at being an NFL OC at some point and we know Harbaugh is loyal to his guys, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Option 2: Balance balance balance
It's very easy to fall into the trap of QB coaches and passing game coordinators that have turned around the careers of young QBs before, and we'll get to them, but as I look at the Chargers roster (and coaching staff), I see a team that wants to be as good running the ball as they are throwing it. Here are a few options that fit that descriptor:
Thomas Brown is both the TE coach and the passing game coordinator for the New England Patriots. He's also a former running back himself and worked as a RB coach with Sean McVay and the Rams. If Josh McDaniels is set on spending the rest of his career as the Patriots OC, Brown could be looking for a promotion elsewhere.
Bobby Slowik is currently the senior passing game coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, who are doing a sloppy job of moving on from Mike McDaniel. Slowik worked with McDaniel (and Kyle Shanahan) in San Francisco before spending a couple of years in Houston, where he's credited with figuring out the right balance for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense.
Option 3: Ram it
I don't know if the Chargers want to, or even could, play in these waters....but here are the big names out there on the offensive coordinator market at the moment.
Zac Robinson, formerly Sean McVay's right-hand man in Los Angeles, spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before Raheem Morris & Co. were let go to make way for a new era of Falcons football. He was probably doomed by having Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix as his starting QBs, and he's taking plenty of interviews around the league at the moment.
Nathan Scheelhaase picked up right where Robinson left off with the Rams two years ago and is getting so much interest, after putting together a great passing attack for the Rams again this season, that he's likely to get at least one interview to be an NFL head coach.
Option 4: The prodigies
Davis Webb, a former backup QB who is barely 30-years old has learned at the foot of Sean Payton and is credited with a lot of Box Nix's development as a QB. Someone's going to give him a shot sooner rather than later to find out how much of the success of Payton and hot much isn't.
Tanner Engstrand is an interesting name to consider, and not just because it is unique. Engstrand is a born-and-raised San Diego kid that almost-assuredly grew up a fan of the Chargers.
After playing at San Diego State, he joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at the University of San Diego as a graduate assistant and worked his way up to the job of offensive coordinator. He once again joined Harbaugh in 2018 as an offensive analyst for the Michigan Wolverines.
He eventually landed in the NFL on the staff of the Detroit Lions, where he was thought to be the right-hand man for offensive guru Ben Johnson (currently the head coach of the Chicago Bears). That success was enough to get him a job as the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets this season, which was short-lived as much as it is unfair to judge him by the performance of that roster.
His track record with Harbaugh and southern California roots make it impossible rule him out as one of the candidates to take over Chargers playcalling duties.