The Chargers have the pieces to contend, but winning a Super Bowl will require key changes. Improving the interior offensive line, unleashing Mike McDaniel’s offense and a breakout second year from Omarion Hampton could be the difference.
The Los Angeles Chargers aren’t that far off from being legitimate Super Bowl contenders. They have the most important piece in place with Justin Herbert, a franchise tackle duo when healthy and a coaching staff that was brought in to raise the ceiling. But if the Chargers are serious about taking the final step next season, a few key changes have to happen. This isn’t about a full rebuild — it’s about tightening the screws in the areas that matter most.
The first and most obvious change needs to come along the interior of the offensive line. The Chargers have invested heavily in their tackles, but football games are often won or lost in the middle. Too often last season, Herbert faced pressure straight up the gut, collapsing the pocket before plays had time to develop. That’s a killer for any quarterback, especially one who does his best work when he can step up and drive the ball downfield. Whether it’s through free agency, the draft or both, the Chargers need more consistency at guard and center. If they can turn the interior into a strength instead of a liability, the entire offense levels up.
That improvement up front ties directly into the second and biggest swing factor: Mike McDaniel. He wasn’t brought to Los Angeles to be “solid” or “respectable.” He was brought in to turn the Chargers into an offensive juggernaut. This roster is built to score, and anything less than a top-tier offense would be a disappointment. McDaniel needs to fully unlock Herbert with tempo, creativity and aggressiveness. That means stressing defenses horizontally and vertically, using motion to create mismatches and putting opponents in constant conflict. The Chargers can’t be an offense that looks good on paper but bogs down in critical moments. To win a Super Bowl, they need to dictate games, not react to them.
A dominant offense also requires balance, which leads to Omarion Hampton. Year two is massive for him. The flashes were there as a rookie, but now the Chargers need Hampton to take the leap from promising to elite. That doesn’t just mean more carries — it means becoming a reliable, difference-making back who can punish defenses late in games. If Hampton can consistently create yards after contact, convert short-yardage situations and contribute in the passing game, it changes how defenses have to play the Chargers. Suddenly, lighter boxes aren’t an option, and play-action becomes lethal.
When you put it all together, the path is pretty clear. Solidify the interior offensive line so Herbert isn’t fighting uphill battles every snap, let Mike McDaniel do what he does best and build an offense that scares opponents every week and get a true breakout season from Omarion Hampton that gives the Chargers balance and physicality. None of these changes are unrealistic, but all of them are necessary. If the Chargers can check those boxes, they won’t just be talking about contention — they’ll be playing deep into February with a real shot at bringing home a Lombardi Trophy.