The Los Angeles Chargers are one of eight teams to begin the season 0-2 and are desperate for a spark.
Since the expansion of the playoff format in 2020, just 16% of 0-2 teams have reached the postseason. Even though the Chargers lost to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, two games in which they entered as heavy favorites, legendary agent Leigh Steinberg is not willing to write off the Chargers just yet.
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Why? Because of head coach Jim Harbaugh.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
“At the end of the day, I think, Jim Harbaugh is one of the most effective and unique coaches in the history of pro football,” Steinberg told OutKick in a recent interview.
“And the fact that they’ve lost two games, there are 15 left, and they’ll make adjustments, they can see what’s happening on the film, they understand that if you’re fumbling the ball multiple times and (committing) turnovers, but, I’d be very surprised if they weren’t in the playoff hunt.”
The Chargers entered the season with hopes of contending in the AFC, with plenty of excitement surrounding Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator. In McDaniel’s first two games, the Chargers have a minus-4 turnover differential and have averaged just 14 points per game.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks during a news conference after an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The Chargers have gone 11-6 in each of Harbaugh’s first two seasons at the helm, losing in the wild-card round each time. Right now, finishing 11-6 seems like a tall task for a Chargers team that has struggled, especially considering they have a difficult upcoming schedule.
In their next six games, the Chargers play the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.
With the slow start and the grueling schedule, some are wondering if Harbaugh is already on the hot seat. Steinberg said any talk of Harbaugh, or any coach, being on the hot seat is premature.
Leigh Steinberg attends the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
“There’s not a ton of storylines at this point in the season, so people have a tendency to overreact to 2 weeks. It’s only been two weeks, it’s just too early to consign someone,” Steinberg said.
While it’s still early in the season, if the offense doesn’t turn things around over the next six games and the Chargers find themselves a few games under .500 at the midpoint of the season, falling behind in a strong AFC West, it could get late early for Harbaugh and Los Angeles.
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Steinberg, who was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, has had many high-profile clients throughout his impressive career. Across football and baseball, Steinberg’s clients include Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams, Howie Long, Eric Karros and Dusty Baker, among others.
