Jim Harbaugh’s hire of Greg Roman was a misstep rooted in familiarity over fit. But by moving on and seeking a modern offensive mind, Harbaugh appears to be learning, adapting and evolving — a crucial step for the Chargers’ future.
When Jim Harbaugh was officially introduced as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, it felt like a long-overdue reset for a franchise that has consistently underachieved. Harbaugh brought credibility, toughness and a proven track record of winning everywhere he’s been. But almost immediately, he made a decision that raised serious questions — hiring Greg Roman as his offensive coordinator.
From the outside, it felt like a move driven more by familiarity than fit.
Roman’s résumé is well known around the league. He has had success building run-heavy offenses around mobile quarterbacks, but that success has always come with limitations in the passing game. That approach never made much sense for Justin Herbert, one of the most talented pure passers in football. Instead of building an offense around Herbert’s arm, the Chargers tried to force him into a system that didn’t fully maximize his strengths.
The results spoke for themselves.
The offense was often predictable, overly conservative and struggled to keep pace with the league’s top units. Too many drives stalled, too many games slipped away and Herbert rarely looked as comfortable or empowered as he should have. In a league that continues to move toward creativity, spacing and aggression, the Chargers felt like they were playing catch-up schematically.
The Roman hire also reinforced a familiar criticism of Harbaugh: his loyalty to people he trusts. Throughout his career, Harbaugh has valued relationships and shared history, sometimes to a fault. That loyalty can build strong locker rooms, but at the NFL level, it can also lead to stubborn decisions that hold a team back. Hiring Roman felt less like a modern football decision and more like Harbaugh leaning on what he knew.
What makes this situation different, though, is what happened next.
Rather than doubling down or defending the decision, Harbaugh made the tough call to move on from Roman. That matters. It wasn’t just a coaching change — it was an acknowledgment that the approach wasn’t working. For a coach who has often been labeled as rigid or set in his ways, that willingness to pivot is encouraging.
Now, the Chargers appear to be targeting a more modern offensive mind with Mike McDaniel, someone who understands how to build an offense around an elite quarterback in today’s NFL. That shift signals growth. It shows Harbaugh understands that winning now requires more than toughness and discipline — it requires innovation and adaptability.
This could end up being a defining moment in Harbaugh’s Chargers tenure.
Great coaches aren’t perfect. They make mistakes. What separates the good from the great is the ability to learn and evolve. Harbaugh’s initial decision to hire Greg Roman was a misstep, but recognizing that mistake and correcting it could pay massive dividends. If he fully commits to a forward-thinking offense and gives Herbert the system he deserves, the Chargers can finally start to resemble the contender they should be.
Jim Harbaugh may have begun his time in Los Angeles by relying too heavily on familiarity. But if this offseason is any indication, he’s learning that relationships don’t win championships — the right ideas do.