The Chargers aren’t far off from a Super Bowl run. Improving the offensive line, modernizing the offensive scheme and potentially adding Mike McDaniel as OC—while leveraging major cap space—could be the final pieces to unlock Justin Herbert and contend next season.
The Los Angeles Chargers aren’t far off. That’s what makes this season’s early playoff exit so frustrating. The roster has elite talent, a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert and a head coach in Jim Harbaugh who knows exactly what championship football looks like. But if the Chargers are serious about making a Super Bowl run next season, there are two areas that must take a significant step forward: the offensive line and the overall offensive scheme.
It all starts up front. For years, the Chargers’ offensive line has been a recurring issue, and while there have been improvements, it still isn’t good enough to consistently compete with the league’s elite defenses. Too often, Herbert is forced to speed up his internal clock, abandon progressions or play hero ball just to keep drives alive. You can survive that in stretches, but you don’t win three or four straight playoff games that way.
If the Chargers want Herbert at his best in January, they need a line that can protect him in obvious passing situations and generate movement in the run game. That means investing real resources—both financially and through the draft—into interior consistency and overall cohesion. The encouraging part is that the Chargers are expected to be near the top of the league in available cap space. That flexibility should allow them to be aggressive in free agency and finally solidify the unit in front of their quarterback.
The second, and arguably more important, improvement must come schematically. This season’s offense was often predictable, stagnant and overly reliant on Herbert making something out of nothing. Too many third-and-longs, too few easy throws and not enough creativity to stress defenses horizontally and vertically. In today’s NFL, that’s a recipe for disappointment.
That’s where the potential hire of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator becomes so intriguing. McDaniel’s offensive philosophy is built around spacing, motion and putting defenders in conflict. His schemes manufacture separation, simplify reads for the quarterback and create explosive plays without requiring perfection on every snap. For Herbert, that could be a game-changer.
A more modern, adaptable offense would also help the run game, which has been inconsistent at best. Better blocking angles, misdirection and play design can turn average runs into efficient gains and keep defenses honest. That balance is critical in the postseason, where one-dimensional offenses rarely survive.
The good news for Chargers fans is that the pieces are already in place. Herbert is still entering his prime. The defense has shown it can be dominant. And the front office finally has the financial freedom to address long-standing weaknesses instead of patching them year to year.
Making the Super Bowl isn’t about a complete overhaul—it’s about sharpening the edges. Protect the quarterback. Modernize the offense. Spend the cap space wisely. If the Chargers can do those things, there’s no reason they can’t be playing deep into February next season instead of watching from home.