Chargers now have tight ends Jim Harbaugh needs…
For years, Jim Harbaugh’s most popular model of soccer felt nearly old school.
While a lot of the NFL chased lighter personnel groupings, unfold formations and smaller, quicker defenses, Harbaugh continued to construct offenses around physicality, versatility and tight ends.
Jim Harbaugh finally has the tight end room he envisioned, and it may develop into the Chargers’ most impactful offseason improve. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Now, the remaining of the league seems to be catching up.
One of the more intriguing observations from Albert Breer’s latest offseason pocket book centered on the Chargers’ revamped tight end room. Breer recommended Los Angeles’ overhaul at the place may end up being one of the most important developments of the offseason — and it speaks to one thing a lot bigger than a participant or place group.
Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel watches quarterback Justin Herbert. AP Photo/Wally Skalij
The Chargers finally have gotten a full reflection of Harbaugh’s soccer id.
You can see it throughout the roster.
There’s first-round working back Omarion Hampton, a bodily downhill runner succesful of carrying a heavy workload. There are huge offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. The protection is constructed around rugged edge gamers including Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Akheem Mesidor.
And then there are the tight ends.
Oronde Gadsden II is an element of the Chargers’ spectacular tight end room. Getty Images
Breer highlighted the additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku alongside second-year hybrid weapon Oronde Gadsden II. Kolar arrives from the Ravens as one of the league’s better blocking tight ends and offers the Chargers a true in-line presence. Njoku can align all over the formation, creating matchup issues while permitting offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel higher flexibility in how he deploys personnel.
That flexibility has always been central to Harbaugh’s offenses.
David Njoku is an element of the Chargers’ spectacular tight end room. Getty Images
At Stanford, tight ends have been featured weapons. Future NFL gamers Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz, Levine Toilolo and Jim Dray all flourished under Harbaugh. At Michigan, Jake Butt turned a Mackey Award winner, while Colston Loveland developed into one of the nation’s premier tight ends.
Harbaugh’s offenses constantly handled the place as more than an further blocker. Tight ends have been foundational items succesful of influencing the run recreation and passing assault.
Harbaugh helped make Stanford tight end Zach Ertz a star. AP
What’s modified is that the NFL is starting to worth those gamers equally.
League-wide usage of 12 personnel — one working back and two tight ends — has climbed from 17.3% of offensive performs in 2022 to more than 22% in 2025. Even more dramatically, 13 personnel packages that includes three tight ends exploded last season, rising practically 50% from the earlier yr.
The catalyst might have been proper up the 405.
Rams coach Sean McVay leaned closely into 13 personnel during the second half of the 2025 season. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Sean McVay’s Rams shocked the league by leaning closely into 13 personnel during the second half of the 2025 season. The outcomes have been devastating. Matthew Stafford threw 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions from those appears to be like, forcing defenses to select between matching measurement against the run or risking favorable passing matchups.
This created a catch-22 for most groups. The Rams also generated constructive anticipated factors added (EPA) on more than 50% of their speeding makes an attempt in 2025, changing into just the second staff since Pro Football Focus started monitoring the metric in 2006 to attain that mark.
The copycat impact was instant. Twenty-two tight ends have been chosen in the 2026 NFL Draft, the most since 2002.
Chargers OC Mike McDaniel used creativity with the Dolphins’ TE group when he was the staff’s head coach. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
That’s where McDaniel’s arrival turns into notably fascinating.
McDaniel’s offenses in Miami weren’t rigidly constructed around tight ends, but they have been remarkably adaptable. When the personnel justified it, the Dolphins turned one of the NFL’s most environment friendly groups concentrating on the place, constantly rating in the top 10 of the league in EPA per play.
That marriage between Harbaugh and McDaniel may very well be precisely what makes the Chargers harmful.
Harbaugh has equipped the blueprint about how to use TEs. AP Photo/William Liang
Harbaugh supplies the blueprint. McDaniel provides the creativity.
Together, they have assembled a roster succesful of taking part in a number of kinds without substituting personnel. They can line up in conventional formations and run energy soccer. They can unfold out defenses. They can power opponents into uncomfortable personnel selections before the ball is snapped.
In many methods, the Chargers aren’t merely building an offense around tight ends.
They’re building an offense around where the NFL is heading next.
And for maybe the first time since Harbaugh returned to the NFL, the league is shifting in his direction.
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