Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a move this week: The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after a 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots in the 2025 AFC wild-card game. Harbaugh recently spoke about his decision to move on from Roman.
Jim Harbaugh Addresses Greg Roman’s Dismissal
Harbaugh confirmed Thursday that the Chargers parted ways with Roman after Sunday night’s playoff defeat to the Patriots.
Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Harbaugh said, “You need a fresh start to stimulate a new direction.” He emphasized the team’s need to improve the offense and help quarterback Justin Herbert.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Chargers finished the season 11-6 but ranked 27th with a D+ grade. Roman had previously worked for Harbaugh in San Francisco, but the Chargers’ offense has stalled in consecutive postseasons, which is why Harbaugh believes the team needs a different voice to help Los Angeles move forward.
The move was not a personal attack or criticism of Roman; it was essentially a strategic reset to help the Chargers go in a different direction. Since Harbaugh has only worked with one offensive coordinator as an NFL head coach, it’s safe to assume the next hire will need to align with Harbaugh’s vision while bringing fresh ideas.
Harbaugh returned to a line he used last year, saying the team did “a disservice and didn’t put him (Herbert) in the positions to be successful enough.” According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Herbert finished the season with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Harbaugh reiterated that sentiment and praised Herbert’s talent and competitive makeup, calling him a winner and saying the coaching staff must close the gap to Herbert’s level. The next offensive coordinator will be the fifth play-caller Herbert has worked with during his Chargers tenure.
“Justin’s talent, Justin’s ability, I have no questions about that. Winner all the way and, yeah, it’s our responsibility to get up to his level. We’re continually striving to do that,” Harbaugh added.
The next coordinator for the Chargers on the offensive side of the ball will need to address questions about whether the Harbaugh-Herbert pairing can deliver playoff progress. A key factor in choosing a new offensive coordinator will be prioritizing someone who blends modern passing concepts with quick-decision structures to limit sacks and negative plays.
Harbaugh has signaled a clear reset. The next offensive coordinator for the Chargers must be a high-impact hire who can translate Herbert’s skills into consistent postseason production and give Harbaugh the offensive identity he needs.
