The Los Angeles Chargers invested heavily and opted for North Carolina running back ͏Omari͏o͏n Hamp͏ton with͏ the͏ 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The ͏move signals head͏ coach Jim Har͏baugh’s clear ͏intention to͏ build a physical, run-heavy offense —͏ and Hampton͏ knows how dominant he and Najee Harris would be together in the backfield.
Hampton Warns NFL About Dominant Backfield Pairing With Najee Harris
Harbaugh made his plan for the 2024 Chargers clear when the team picked Joe Alt at No. 5 in last year’s draft. The team leaned on J.K. Dobbins and the running game last season, with Dobbins rushing for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in just 13 games. Never a long-term plan at running back, the Los Angeles quickly moved on by signing Harris.
Omarion Hampton is excited about his partnership with Harris, and with the Chargers having a potent quarterback and offensive line, the former North Carolina RB feels something special is building in Los Angeles.
“We know they’re going to run the ball, so I’m loving it,” Hampton said this week, via The Jim Rome Show. “I’m excited, we got me and Najee, a dominant duo backfield. I’m excited to learn from him, I’m excited to get out there. We got a good offensive line, a good quarterback. I feel like we’re building something special here.”
“We know (Harbaugh)’s going to run the ball, he’s decided to run the ball and it’s something he wants to do,” Hampton said. “He did it all his career, so I’m just excited to get started. With him being my head coach, I couldn’t be more happy.”
Harris has been durable in his first four seasons, starting every game and rushing for over 1,000 yards each year. In 2024, he rushed for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns, adding 36 receptions and 283 receiving yards. Now with the Chargers adding another productive rusher in Hampton, their run game is set to be nothing less than dominant in 2025.
Hampton arrives in Los Angeles after a dominant college career. In three seasons with the North Carolina Tar͏ Hee͏ls,͏ he rushed for 3,565 yards and 36 touchdowns on 622 carries. Counting his contributions as a receiver, Hampton amassed 4,200 all-purpose yards and scored 40 total touchdowns, placing him fourth all-time in North Carolina’s program history.
In ͏back-to-back seasons, he recorded over 1,500 rushing yards and earned first team All-American ͏and All-A͏CC honors in 2023 and 2024.