The LA Chargers added veteran running back Najee Harris in free agency this offseason before drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft out of North Carolina.
Jim Harbaugh’s RB1 Battle With the Chargers
The biggest storyline of the Chargers’ minicamp this season has quickly become the dynamic between Harris and Hampton, both arriving with the franchise in recent months.
Harbaugh has always been a tremendous fan of the run game, consistently leaning into it throughout his career as a head coach. That spans from his time with Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers to runners like Blake Corum with the Michigan Wolverines.
In 2024, Harbaugh patched together a group led by two of his brother’s former players, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Now in 2025, the experienced coach has a new group capable of executing the tough running style he’s looking to implement.
Harris has been a consistent runner in his first four seasons in the league. He recorded four straight 1,000-yard seasons, with 1,097 carries in total. While he doesn’t appear as explosive as other RBs around the league, he’s played behind a poor offensive line with the Pittsburgh Steelers for multiple years.
Harbaugh has already built a wall upfront, with four first-round picks expected to start on the offensive line, meaning Harris could have a career year if he gets the touches.
The question is how those touches will be split with Hampton, who comes into the NFL with a tremendous reputation.
The former UNC Tar Heels star accumulated over 3,000 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in the past two seasons combined. He was named a back-to-back first-team All-American and a finalist for the Doak Walker award.
big O locked in pic.twitter.com/k40o5imzau
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 9, 2025
Hampton is a powerful runner with a lot of strength in his lower body. He’s shown an impressive ability to pick up additional yards after contact, with six yards per carry in his two years as a starter for the Tar Heels.
Splitting Carries Between the Two RBs in LA
Hampton has already alluded to the idea that he and Harris will form a very powerful backfield. The pairing exemplifies exactly what Harbaugh wants to do: punishing teams in the run game to open up the pass.
As indicated in PFSN’s post, the question now becomes how those carries will be split between the two.
Both can be every-down backs. They’re both capable pass catchers, with the strength to play a role as a pass protector.
In 2024, JK Dobbins emerged as the primary ball carrier, but with two impressive talents in 2025, Harbaugh and the offensive staff may instead opt for a more balanced approach.
However, those carries are split, and fans are expecting the Chargers to dominate on the ground in 2025. Hampton couldn’t have landed in a better situation, and Harris is excited to play behind a standout offensive line.