With Jim Harbaugh, Chargers have coaching edge in most 2026 NFL matchups

Jim Harbaugh enters his third year as Chargers coach. His first two seasons resulted in postseason appearances, albeit first-round playoff exits.

The key now is turning regular-season success into playoff success.

Clearly, though, he is among the best coaches in football and gives his team a big advantage on most game days.

But how does he stack up against the opposing coaches the Chargers face this season?

Here is a ranking of those coaches and who has the edge:

1. Andy Reid, Chiefs, Weeks 6 and 17

Reid’s been doing this at the highest levels for 27 years, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Coming off one of the few bummer years of his career, does anyone doubt Big Red will get it figured out and turned back around?

From the week of preparation to the game-planning to the playcalling, Reid remains at the top of the game.

Edge: Chiefs

2. Sean McVay, Rams, Week 8

There are many reasons the Rams have become perennial Super Bowl contenders since moving to Los Angeles in 2016. General manager Les Snead is a master at building rosters and supplying the coaching staff with great players.

But McVay is as key to the operation as it comes, first in the influence he plays on personnel but then taking that personnel and molding it into a championship-level team. He’s also shown great flexibility and forward-thinking from a schematic and personnel standpoint.

Edge: Rams

3. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers, Week 15

In a year in which the 49ers made massive personnel changes and suffered an incredible slew of injuries, they still managed to win 12 games and win a playoff game.

Shanahan deserves to take a bow for keeping it together and not only maintaining the 49ers’ standard for excellence but also enriching it.

Edge: 49ers

4. Mike Macdonald, Seahawks, Week 4

Macdonald has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s best young coaches, and it’s not just how he drove the Seahawks to the Super Bowl championship in just his second season.

He is one of the game’s great defensive masterminds, and he is proving to be a top-notch leader and motivator.

Edge: Push

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5. Sean Payton, Broncos, Weeks 5 and 18

Payton has rapidly restored order in Denver and built a team that fell inches short of the Super Bowl.

Interestingly, he is surrendering playcalling duties to Davis Webb, who is on the head-coach fast track. Payton’s willingness to elevate Webb was an interesting display of unselfishness from Payton but also recognition that perhaps the Broncos and young quarterback Bo Nix will be better off with Webb calling the plays.

That is good coaching.

Edge: Push

6. Mike Vrabel, Patriots, Week 12

It didn’t take long for the Vrabel effect to take hold in New England. His bravado, confidence and preference for rugged, smart football teams immediately turned the Patriots into AFC champions.

It will be interesting to monitor how much his offseason off-field controversies will hinder him or the Patriots.

Edge: Push

7. DeMeco Ryans, Texans, Week 9

Ryans has overseen a massive turnaround in Houston, including two division championships and three playoff appearances.

The bulk of that success has been powered by the defense. No surprise, Ryans has a defensive coaching background and is a former NFL linebacker.

For the Texans to take that next step, though, Ryans needs to get the offense up to par.

Edge: Chargers

8. Klint Kubiak, Raiders, Weeks 2 and 14

Kubiak is in his first year as a head coach, so there is some projection on this one. But the pedigree is there, including playing a key role in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship as their offensive coordinator.

He’ll be a legend if he can get the Raiders turned around. But it will take some time.

Edge: Chargers

9. Jesse Minter, Ravens, Week 10

Much like Kubiak, there is some projection with Minter going into his first season as an NFL head coach.

But there is a lot to like with a coach many in the NFL cite as one of the brightest defensive minds in the game and foresee as someone who will take that defensive expertise and translate it to success as a head coach.

Edge: Chargers

10. Todd Bowles, Buccaneers, Week 13

Bowles’ placement has more to do with how many first-year coaches the Chargers face this year or, in Aaron Glenn’s case, with the Jets, a second-year coach with a lot to prove.

To put it in perspective, there was genuine surprise in Florida when the Buccaneers opted to retain Bowles after last season. And it would surprise no one if they make a change at the end of this season.

Edge: Chargers

11. Joe Brady, Bills, Week 3

Another first-time head coach, Brady gets a lot of credit for helping Bills quarterback Josh Allen reach a new level, and maximize Buffalo’s offense as a whole, since becoming the coordinator in 2023.

The question now, for Brady and the other first-timers, is whether they can lead? Can they be counted on to make key in-game decisions in real time? And can he command the entire room?

Edge: Chargers

12. Jeff Hafley, Dolphins, Week 16

Hafley arrives in Miami from Green Bay, where he was the Packers’ defensive coordinator the last two years. But he also spent four years as the head coach at Boston College, so he has some experience as the head man.

He is a hard-nosed, no-nonsense leader who is committed to creating a new culture in Miami built on hard work, physicality and mental toughness.

Edge: Chargers

13. Mike LaFleur, Cardinals, Week 1

Another first-time NFL head coach and the brother of Matt LaFleur, the Packers’ head coach, LaFleur walks into an unenviable position in Arizona, where there is a dearth of talent, including at quarterback.

The Cardinals say they will practice patience, and if so, LaFleur will have a chance to grow into the job and eventually help get Arizona on the right track.

But it feels like it’s a long way away.

Edge: Chargers

14. Aaron Glenn, Jets, Week 11

Things could not have gone worse in Season 1 for Glenn. The Jets did not show progress, and there were times when he simply seemed overmatched as the head coach.

In his defense, the Jets had an awful roster and got no help from their quarterbacks.

But Glenn has a lot of work to do to prove he’s the right man for the job,

Edge: Chargers