Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton and head coach Jim Harbaugh each received votes in ESPN's predictions from NFL executives for this year's major award winners.
While none of the league executives picked any of the three Chargers to win a major award, all three still received recognition in the voting.
Herbert received votes for MVP, Hampton received votes for breakout player of the year, and Harbaugh received some votes for coach of the year.
Herbert and Hampton are projected to have big seasons in 2026 under offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel. The 28-year-old quarterback is in line to have his biggest season yet.
McDaniel is projected to take Herbert's game to another level, one in which he supplants himself as
a frontrunner for the MVP. According to BetMGM, Herbert has the fifth-best odds to win MVP at +1000.
As for Hampton, he will enter his second season as a pro. His rookie season didn't go as planned, as he was held to nine games due to an ankle injury; however, he hopes for a different result in 2026 and in a major way.
Hampton has a chance to not only establish himself as a vital player in Los Angeles' offense, but also as one of the premier backs in the NFL.
Harbaugh is set to enter his third season as head coach of the team. While he's led the Bolts to back-to-back 11-win seasons and playoff berths, he hasn't yet led them to a postseason win.
The hope is that all changes in 2026, starting with taking care of business in their own division. It won't be easy, but the Chargers have built a squad they believe can capture their first AFC West title since 2009.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 3 Chargers garner votes for major NFL awards entering 2026 season
