Chargers running back Omarion Hampton is expected to break out in a major way in 2026. After a season in which he was held to nine games due to a fractured left ankle, Hampton is set to play a vital role in the offense.
Although Hampton hasn't been in the league for a long time, he's established himself as a physical, downhill back who operates as a true workhorse. With those tools under his belt, general manager Joe Hortiz couldn't help but compare him to All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis.
Hortiz appeared on Daniel Jeremiah's podcast, Move the Sticks, and made the comparison to Lewis.
"Omarion is a looser athlete than Jamal [Lewis] but the same type of speed, power combination," Hortiz said.
"I mean, I watch him run the ball, and I remember when
we were kids watching Jamal run the ball, and I'm like, man, I would not want to get in the way of that; they bounce off of him. Because people test him, guys will be in practice, and someone's like, 'I'm going to put the plastic on him,' and they get ejected from the club. He's [Hampton] just so explosive on contact and his speed; you just don't realize how fast he is."
Hortiz knows firsthand how Hampton and Lewis operate. He was in Baltimore when Lewis was in his prime and dominating for the Ravens.
Horiz served in many roles in Baltimore but spent most of his time as a scout for the Ravens while Lewis was on the team. The 50-year-old general manager spent a total of 26 seasons in Baltimore.
Lewis was a force to be reckoned with; outside of his long list of accolades, he was a unit. Lewis had a rare combination of size, breakaway speed and a relentless running style.
Hampton has displayed similar characteristics to those Hortiz alluded to. The 23-year-old proved that, prior to his ankle injury, and now that is all a thing of the past, Hampton is set to prove he is one of the premier backs in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' Joe Hortiz compares Omarion Hampton to All-Pro running back
