Tag: Jim Harbaugh

Which Chargers received votes for awards at NFL Honors?

J.K. Dobbins was the only finalist for a major awards, but there were other Chargers players and coaches who received votes.

The Chargers had one player who was a finalist for one of the major awards on Thursday night at NFL Honors.

Running back J.K. Dobbins finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting behind Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dobbins received three first-place votes.

Dobbins was the only finalist, but some other players and coaches did receive votes following the 2024 season.

Here’s a quick look at the Chargers receiving votes for major awards.

Most Valuable Player of the Year

Quarterback Justin Herbert received three fourth-place votes. Bills QB Josh Allen was the winner.

Comeback Player of the Year

Herbert received one third-place vote, one fourth-place vote and two fifth-place votes.

Assistant Coach of the Year

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter received two second-place votes, five third-place votes and two fifth-place votes. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was the winner.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Offensive tackle Joe Alt received two third-place votes and two fifth-place votes. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey got two fourth-place votes and one fifth-place vote. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was the winner.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Cornerback Tarheeb Still received one first-place vote, three third-place votes, two fourth-place votes and four fifth-place votes. Rams edge rusher Jared Verse was the winner.

Coach of the Year

Head coach Jim Harbaugh received three second-place votes, three third-place votes, 12 fourth-place votes and 11 fifth-place votes. Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell was the winner.

Chargers hiring new safeties coach

The Chargers hired their replacement for Chris O’Leary.

The Chargers have hired Adam Fuller as the team’s new safeties coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Fuller will replace former safeties coach Chris O’Leary, who left to become the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan.

Fuller previously served as Florida State’s defensive coordinator, a role that he held from 2020-24. He was Memphis’ defensive coordinator in 2019 and at Marshall from 2013-18 on the defensive staff.

Fuller was the defensive coordinator at Chattanooga from 2009-12. He spent the 2008 season as the head coach at Assumption College.

Fuller coached cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. in 2020.

Very early look at Chargers’ odds for Super Bowl LX

Taking a look at what Vegas makes out of the Chargers winning it all next year.

It’s Super Bowl week…but not for the Chargers.

Instead, it’s that time when fans reminisce on what could be if their favorite team were in the Super Bowl and begin looking towards next year to get an early idea of what sportsbooks make out of their squad making it.

For the Bolts, they are the seventh overall favorite to win Super Bowl LX and fifth among AFC teams at +2500, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

The teams that have better odds than Los Angeles are the Chiefs (+600), Ravens (+650), Eagles (+700), Bills (+700), Lions (+950), 49ers (+1600), Commanders (+2000), Packers (+2000) and Bengals (+2000).

The Chargers are coming off an impressive season under Jim Harbaugh’s first year as the team’s head coach. They finished with an 11-6 record in the regular season and earned a spot in the playoffs.

Los Angeles is in great shape to bolster the roster, as they’re projected to have over $60 million in cap space to bring back some of their top players and sign free agents. Additionally, they are expected to have ten draft picks.

If general manager Joe Hortiz can hit a home run this offseason, the Chargers could make a deep run next season.

What does Chargers DL Poona Ford’s projected free agent contract look like?

Poona Ford was a beast up front, and he should be one of the Chargers’ priorities to bring back.

With Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Ford and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Ford will land a one-year deal with $3.5 million. This includes $1.5 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Ford had a resurgent season under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Ford, the man in the middle of the defensive line, was integral in stopping the run. His 80.3 PFF run-defense grade ranked third among interior defenders. He also had 25 quarterback pressures.

PFF’s projection for Ford seems a little low, considering how great he played in 2024. Instead, he might garner a contract worth $14 million-$16 million per year, as he should be one of the top defensive tackles on the market.

While the price might be a bit high for some, Ford should be a top priority for the Chargers. The team is well-stocked in salary cap space, so they should be able to afford him.

What went right and what went wrong for the 2024 Chargers

After finishing the regular season on a three-game winning streak, LA’s season ended in disappointing fashion in the Wild Card round.

The Chargers’ 2024 season came to a disappointing end after a one-and-done trip to the postseason. Still, the season gave a glimmer of hope for the future of the franchise.

Below, we will tackle just went right as well as what went wrong with this year’s squad.

Right: New coaching staff

Jim Harbaugh was able to implement his style of football into this team immediately. That was evident before the season even began when the team beefed up in the trenches. The squad was able to win some closer games and actually exceed expectations, something that isn’t often said about Chargers teams. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was an exceptional hire as well, as the defense was No. 1 in the NFL in scoring.

Wrong: Playmakers for Justin Herbert

There were heavy criticisms last offseason after the Chargers seemingly didn’t address the wide receiver and tight end positions enough. Most of the low-risk signings ended up being complete busts at the two positions, which included Will Dissly, DJ Chark, and Hayden Hurst. Too often, Justin Herbert had to rely on his stud rookie Ladd McConkey, and had essentially no one else to go to. The front office should learn from their mistakes and target these two positions heavily this offseason.

Right: Rookie class

Enough can’t be said about Joe Alt and McConkey, who obviously head this class. That’s not all though, as the team’s two rookie corners, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, were big-time contributors in 2024. Without this rookie class, this team would not have made the postseason this year. It looks to be one of the best draft classes in Chargers history, and we’re already one year in. They were a big reason for this year’s success, and the same should be said for the future.

Wrong: Consistency

It was an up-and-down year for the Chargers, namely when it came to them playing better competition. They finished with a 2-6 record against playoff teams this year, both wins coming against the Broncos. That’s right, with the exception of Denver, the Chargers were winless against playoff teams this year. There’s no doubt that this team still has some flaws, and that will be addressed by the front office this offseason. One would hope this team can be a bit more consistent in 2025 with hopefully a few more offensive weapons to give them a more balanced unit.

Right: Special teams

This aspect of NFL teams often goes unlooked, but the Chargers’ special teams unit was quite solid in 2024. Cameron Dicker continues to be one of the best, most consistent kickers in the league. In his third NFL season, he went 41-for-44 on field goal attempts, which included several clutch, timely ones. Derius Davis was quite solid in the return game and gave the team positive field position on several occasions. This unit did more good for the team than bad, and that should continue as long as Dicker sticks around in Los Angeles.

What does Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins’ projected free agent contract look like?

J.K. Dobbins returned to form this season, proving that he should be re-signed by the Chargers.

With Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Dobbins and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Dobbins will land a two-year deal with $7 million. This includes $4 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Dobbins’ play exceeded his $1.6 million prove-it deal. He set a career-high in rushing yards (905) and tied his personal best in rushing touchdowns (9).

After spending most of his time with the Ravens on the sidelines due to multiple lower-body injuries, Dobbins managed to stay healthy for most of the season, appearing in 13 games in 2024.

As a result of his bounce-back campaign, Dobbins is a finalist for the Associated Press’ Comeback Player of the Year Award.

It’s clear that Dobbins boosts the running game when he is on the field. However, the consistency of his health remains a question mark.

Nonetheless, the Chargers would be wise to bring him back, especially considering how cheap he should be.

What does Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr.’s projected free agent contract look like?

Asante Samuel Jr. will be one of the top cornerbacks on the free agency market this offseason.

With Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Samuel and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Samuel will land a three-year deal with $43.5 million. This includes $26.5 million guaranteed.

Samuel is coming off a contract year where he missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury. He had 13 tackles and two passes defended in 2024.

Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Florida State, Samuel made a significant impact from the start of his professional career.

From his rookie campaign to 2023, Samuel shined in coverage, amassing over 10 breakups and two interceptions in each of those seasons.

While his ball skills have been a strength of his game, Samuel has struggled as an open-field tackler.

The case could be made for the Chargers to re-sign Samuel, as he’s an asset in coverage and is only 25 years old.

On the flip side, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter requires good tacklers on the backend, and the cornerback room got great production from Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still when they were thrust into starting roles.

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh are united by one simple fact

Jim Harbaugh versus Pete Carroll. Again. Stanford-USC, Niners-Seahawks, and now Chargers-Raiders.

The workings of life are strange. Two different people might not want to cross paths ever again, but they somehow keep bumping into each other. Two people with complicated histories manage to intersect again and again, reminding them of a turbulent past. So it is for Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, two men whose paths just won’t diverge. These two men can’t get rid of each other. Pete Carroll’s arrival as the new coach of the Las Vegas Raiders will mean Carroll will coach against Harbaugh twice per NFL season, and not for the first time.

These coaches are widely acknowledged as elite performers. One simple fact which unites them in their shared excellence: Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh have both won a college national championship and coached in the Super Bowl. Carroll obviously won, but the list of men to win a national title and coach in the Super Bowl is short. Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer are on the list. It’s a very limited club.

Jim Harbaugh has been a thorn in Pete Carroll’s side:

From 2007 through 2012, Jim Harbaugh hounded Pete Carroll at two different jobs. Harbaugh’s first San Francisco 49er teams were better and more polished than Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks. Harbaugh got the jump on Carroll in the NFL. Harbaugh also embarrassed Carroll at USC a few years earlier in 2009. Two years before that, Stanford scored the biggest point-spread upset in college football history, winning at the Coliseum as a 41-point underdog. Keeping in mind that nearly every major college football program in the insane 2007 had at least two losses going into the bowls, that USC loss to Stanford deprived the Trojans of a likely spot in the BCS National Championship Game, opposite Ohio State. USC probably would have faced the Buckeyes without that humiliation suffered at the hands of Harbaugh.

However, for all that Harbaugh has done to Carroll, it was Carroll who won the head-to-head battle when the two men met in an NFC Championship Game with the Super Bowl on the line.

Two men have reached the mountaintop and have coached at a high level, reaching numerous big games. Shared excellence is the reality Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh have created.

What’s your deal? Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh will face each other again

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh went at each other in the Pac-10. They went at each other in the NFC West. Now, the AFC West. Act three is here.

This past week, it was announced that Pete Carroll will return to coaching in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders. After serving as the head coach at USC for nine seasons and with the Seattle Seahawks for 14, Carroll has officially found his next stop. One thing that all three stops have had in common is a shared adversary. Who would that be, you ask? None other than Jim Harbaugh.

The rivalry between Carroll and Harbaugh goes back to the 2000s, when the former was at USC and the latter was at Stanford. In 2007, when Harbaugh was in his first season at Stanford and still relatively unknown nationally, the Cardinal came into the Coliseum as 41-point underdogs. Stanford stunned the Trojans 24-23, one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

After the Trojans got their revenge in 2008, the Cardinal once again won in the Coliseum in 2009, this time in a 55-21 blowout. Following the game, the two head coaches had a heated postgame exchange, where each proceeded to ask the other, “what’s your deal?”

When Carroll left USC for the Seahawks in 2010, he likely thought that he was free from Harbaugh. A year later, Harbaugh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, ensuring that the two would face off twice every season.

The two coaches squared off in the NFC West for four seasons. Their most memorable meeting during that stretch came in the NFC Championship Game in January of 2014. With San Francisco trailing by six in the final minute, Seahawk linebacker Malcolm Smith—who played for Carroll at USC—intercepted a pass by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the end zone, sending Seattle to the Super Bowl.

It has been more than a decade since the two coaches faced off, as Harbaugh left the 49ers to go coach Michigan—his alma mater—following the 2014 season. With Harbaugh now back in the NFL as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, however, the two are division rivals once again, this time in the AFC West.

When the Chargers and Raiders face off this fall, it will mark the renewal of the long rivalry between Carroll and Harbaugh. Let’s see what the deal is this time.

Pete Carroll could be part of the greatest coaching division in NFL history

Pete Carroll, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, and Jim Harbaugh are all coaching in the same division. It’s hard to comprehend how great the four coaches are.

If you love the NFL and its history, you have to be excited about seeing the news that Pete Carroll will coach the Las Vegas Raiders. Carroll will coach in the AFC West, going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. He will try to slow down the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, two teams which made the NFL playoffs this past season. If you stop for a moment and consider the four coaches who make up the AFC West coaching contingent, it is hard to think of another time in NFL history when one division had four great all-time head coaches.

The mid-1980s NFC East had three all-timers: Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Parcells of the New York Giants, and Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins. The 2025 AFC West, however, will have four all-time greats.

Pete Carroll, Andy Reid, and Sean Payton have all won the Super Bowl. Carroll is the only man alive to have won the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, and college football national championship. Andy Reid has won three Super Bowls and should become — in a few years — just the fourth man ever to win 300 NFL games as a head coach. Jim Harbaugh is one of a select few men who have won a college football national championship and coached in a Super Bowl.

All four men — Carroll, Reid, Payton, and Harbaugh — have coached in multiple conference championship games. All are in the top 95 on the NFL head coaching wins list.

Pete Carroll, Sean Payton, and Andy Reid are all in the top 20 for all-time NFL head coaching wins. They all have 170 or more wins.

The list of statistics and milestones goes on and on and on. This might be the best division of coaches in the history of the NFL.