3 Candidates to Replace Jim Harbaugh as Chargers Head Coach

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert responded Wednesday to criticism from Rams safety Quentin Lake.

Lake intercepted Herbert in Los Angeles' 24-9 loss to the Rams in Week 8.

He appeared on the St. Brown Podcast and did not hold back.

"He was throwing deli meat out there," Lake said.

"He's seeing ghosts. I don't know what's going on, but we knew we were gonna get a couple. At least one."

Herbert completed 24 of 32 passes for 257 yards in that game.

He threw no touchdowns and two interceptions.

One of those picks went to Lake, who jumped a route to tight end Charlie Kolar and returned it 46 yards to set up a field goal.

Through seven games this season, Herbert has thrown for 1,398 yards.

He has five touchdowns and a league-high ten interceptions.

Asked about Lake's remarks on Wednesday, Herbert said he had not heard them.

"I haven't looked into it, haven't heard anything about it, so I can't really make a comment about it," Herbert told reporters.

"We're really just focused on what's going on in the building, playing football and doing what we can and doing our best to, you know, go put our best effort out on Sunday."

"And that's all that really matters. Anything outside of that is out of our control."

Harbaugh pushed back on the characterization.

"As far as anybody's opinion, I don't see that," he said.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinion. Not what I see."

Harbaugh added that he felt Herbert "did his job exceptionally well."

He acknowledged the two throws the quarterback would like to have back.

The Chargers' focus remains on cleaning up the turnovers and finding the end zone more consistently.

Herbert has gone without a touchdown pass in each of the last two games.

He will look to snap that streak this Sunday against the Texans.

The 2026 season has been an absolute nightmare for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The team is 0-7.

The offense looks completely inept under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Herbert is having an awful season.

Harbaugh is having the worst year of his coaching career.

Even though Harbaugh led Los Angeles to two straight 11-6 seasons and got them into the playoffs his first two seasons with the team, one cannot help but feel that Harbaugh is on the hot seat.

He still has two years left on the five-year, $80 million contract he signed following the 2024 season.

But if it becomes obvious that he has lost the locker room and the team has quit on him, then what other choice do the Chargers have than to move on?

It's important to remember that Harbaugh's last time in the NFL ended rather abruptly after an 8-8 season with the San Francisco 49ers.

That happened even though he had led the team to two NFC Championship appearances and one Super Bowl appearance in his first three seasons there.

Crazy things can happen.

If the Chargers continue to be absolutely awful, then maybe Harbaugh will be let go.

Three candidates have been floated as potential replacements.

Mike Tomlin is one name being discussed.

It has been unusual this season to watch Pittsburgh Steelers games and not see Tomlin on the sideline.

His time there clearly ran its course and he had a great run which included one Super Bowl win as well as the fact that he never had a losing season.

If Tomlin does want to return to coaching next season, the Chargers would have to be a pretty appetizing situation.

While Herbert is struggling, he has shown that he can be an elite NFL quarterback.

That is one less thing Tomlin would have to worry about.

Tomlin runs a tight ship.

If he could come in, shake things up a bit, and change the culture, that could be all the Chargers need to get back on track.

Kliff Kingsbury is another name on the list.

While the Chargers may be a bit gun shy on eccentric offensive-minded coaches after the disaster that the McDaniel experience has been, Kingsbury could be a high-risk, high-reward option.