The Los Angeles Chargers have played 67 seasons as a franchise but are still seeking their first Super Bowl victory.
It’s been just over 31 years since the Chargers reached the Super Bowl, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, but there’s reason to believe they could make it back to the big game in early 2027.
“At his best, Justin Herbert can make a team a Super Bowl contender, even as his critics fairly point to his playoff shortcomings as evidence that he can’t. This season could end up being
a big test of that theory. If the Chargers’ offensive line (which received more reinforcements this offseason and returned its two best blockers from injury) can improve, there will be fewer excuses for Herbert. Mike McDaniel calling plays also is a wild-card factor in this equation,“ NFL.com contributor Eric Edholm wrote.
“The Chargers’ defense has been mostly excellent over the past two seasons, but new coordinator Chris O’Leary has big shoes to fill with Jesse Minter taking over the Ravens’ head-coaching job. In half a dozen years as an NFL head man, Harbaugh has shown an ability to win regular-season games at nearly a 70 percent clip and has zero losing seasons, but his postseason record (5-5) doesn’t match that level of performance.”
The Chargers have the pieces to the puzzle; they just need to arrange them in the right places. They also need to get lucky with injuries, which they weren’t last year. Despite their misfortune, they were still able to make it to the playoffs as a wild card. That is proof that the Chargers have the personnel and depth to be one of the best teams in the league. With new coordinators on each side of the football that can provide a press perspective, there is also potential for the team to reach new heights in the 2026 season.
It’s ultimately going to come down to execution, as long as the Chargers get on the right page during the offseason. It can be tricky for a team to learn a new offense and defense going into a new season, but with a veteran-led roster and a coach that has made it to the Super Bowl before, the Chargers have about as good a shot as most teams in the league to go all the way.
