Former Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman thinks his old team is closer to overtaking the Kansas City Chiefs than most people think.
He recently went on the Up & Adams Show and spelled out why he thinks the Chiefs’ nine-year run as lords of the AFC West might be coming to an end.
Jim Harbaugh is the Transformative Figure the Chargers Needed
“I’m not just saying it because I’m a Charger. I think they’re going to win the division this year. I really feel that way. I don’t want to take anything away from Patrick Mahomes. They (the Chiefs) always got a great team,” Merriman said. “They got a helluva coach in Andy Reid. But truthfully, where the Chargers at, the jump that they made. Think about, remember before the season started last year, nobody saw the Chargers even being a playoff team.”
“That was the exact same team, almost that minus a Keenan Allen and some of these other guys that Jim Harbaugh took over,” Merriman reasoned. “Nobody saw them going to the playoffs, so if he’s able to do that in one year’s time, what are they gonna be looking like this year? With a full year under their belt. New guys. The coaching staff, everybody understands the system now, so if you don’t think they’re not gonna win a division, you know, it’s just, it’s crazy not to say that I think they’re best team in the AFC West right now.”
Chiefs won't win the AFC West, the Chargers will says Shawne Merriman 💪@heykayadams | @shawnemerriman | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/HWI21MmY5f
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 5, 2025
Harbaugh’s arrival was revelatory, especially for franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2024, Herbert achieved a career-best passer rating of 101.7. His interception count dropped to a personal low of three. He didn’t throw for 4,000 yards, but he didn’t need to since the Chargers relied on ball control instead of winging the ball downfield.
Harbaugh changed the culture. He focused on discipline and a commitment to the run. The Chargers went on to improve their record from 5–12 in 2023 to 11–6 in 2024. A remarkable six-win increase that beat the Vegas odds that put the Chargers O/U at 8.5 wins.
The Chargers spent a lot of time and effort in the offseason identifying offensive talent in the 2025 NFL Draft. They took running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina in the first round before snagging Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris in the second round. Both players will be expected to contribute immediately, especially Hampton, who is expected to be a solid dual-threat back.
The Chargers have historically struggled in high-pressure situations and critical moments, especially in playoff games. By contrast, the Chiefs have demonstrated resilience and poise, frequently executing game-winning drives under Mahomes’ leadership leading to three wins in five Super Bowl appearances. Addressing this disparity is crucial for the Chargers if they aim to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC West.