Greg Roman‘s second year with the Chargers has proven to be his last. The veteran offensive coordinator has been fired, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team has since confirmed the news. 
This represents a split between Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh. The two worked together at Stanford (2009-10), with the 49ers (2011-14) and again during Harbaugh’s time with the Chargers. The 2026 season will represent Harbaugh’s first in the NFL without Roman as his offensive coordinator.
Los Angeles has reached the playoffs in each of the past two years. That illustrates the successful turnaround seen under Harbaugh and the team’s new front office. The performances seen on offense during the wild-card round has left plenty to be desired, however. Between last season’s loss to the Texans and the defeat against the Patriots from this weekend, Roman’s unit has managed just 15 total playoff points.
As Daniel Popper of The Athletic notes (subscription required), the “tenor” regarding Roman’s future changed in the wake of Sunday night’s game. Quarterback Justin Herbert continued to face consistent pressure due in large part to Los Angeles’ struggles up front. He took six sacks against the Patriots and several scrambles resulted in a team-leading 57 rushing yards. Offensive line coach Mike Devlin is also out, per the NFLN trio.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater was lost for the season to a torn patellar tendon suffered in August. That resulted in Joe Alt moving to the blindside, creating a setup which largely proved sufficient when he was available. Alt himself was limited to only six games in 2025 due to his own season-ending injury, however. The Bolts were unable to compensate for losing their top two linemen, and issues up front persisted through the team’s elimination.
Overall, the Chargers ranked 11th in scoring during Roman’s first year in charge and 20th in 2025. Improvements will be sought out by Harbaugh over the coming days. Los Angeles could be seen as one of the top openings around the league on the OC front given the presence of Herbert and a number of other core pieces on offense. It will be interesting to see who Harbaugh targets as he prepares for a rare stint without Roman serving as one of his top lieutenants.
Roman, 53, has been an NFL offensive coordinator for 12 years. In between his stints working with Jim Harbaugh, he led the Bills’ offense for two seasons and the Ravens’ for four. Roman won the Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2019, the season in which Lamar Jackson was the NFL’s unanimous MVP. Known for finding success with dual-threat quarterbacks, he could be sought out by teams seeking out an improved showing in the run game in particular.
The Lions and Buccaneers currently have an offensive coordinator vacancy. More are expected to open as the HC landscape takes shape over the coming days. In any case, the Chargers are now among the teams seeking out a new play-caller on offense as they look to take a step forward next year.
league shifts very fast lately. some of the old guys are having trouble keeping up.
He’s not even that old; just been around forever. Agree that he needs to adapt his scheme, though
Both tackles were down, Harris, Hampton both missed time. There are plenty of excuses that are quite valid. I don’t think this really falls on Roman but it’s not like you can’t find a different offensive coordinator out there that can so just as well. I’d love to see monken there, or daboll as an Oc.
Greg Roman has lost his mojo.
Good Harbaugh like always accepted his share of the blame- oh wait never mind. I forgot he has never been wrong, it’s always someone else.
Ok
Huh? Is this…an attempt to shade Harbaugh for his recent past at Michigan (I assume other than the National Title)? SpartyBucknuts are obsessed man, I swear.
Changes do need to be made
I mean if it’s Roman’s fault the oline wasn’t given help like how Texans helped their oline by lining up Fisher as an extra tackle or how Detroit uses what’s his name the 6’9” guy Dan Skipper then yeah that’s on Roman
They should have used Matlock as an extra blocker in the backfield or on the line to chip block and roll out to the flat or used Penning as an extra tackle
They also didn’t adjust to stunts inside very well.
I think it helps to have starters in there, too
Whether you have your “starting 5” or not, interior linemen picking up basic defensive stunts is not something any veteran lineman should be completely inept at (PFF is not gospel, but they do rather well with OL pass protection ratings, and LAC’s interior starters for WC game were all Bottom 3 at their position for the year!).
The Patriots game was just a big microscope…the basic issue has been there all year and never improved. That’s on the O-line coach and OC to scheme playcalls that give some additional help while insuring proper technique on certain defensive looks. Its not a coincidence that the two ppl fired were OC and OL coach.
This is what happens with Greg Roman.
After San Fran, teams have brought him in when they needed a guy who could make their mobile quarterback effective while he learns to be a pocket passer.
He should be in demand again for that same reason.
Precisely my thoughts. Roman is a good starter OC, but he hits his ceiling fast. And in this case, they have one of the best true passers in the league. There’s untapped upside here (if the tackles don’t miss the whole season again).
@Oooof. Maybe harbaugh hires sherrone moore
He had Kellen Moore and couldn’t get it done either. He had this same problem in college. He throws a pretty ball, but playing QB isn’t throwing preetty balls. It’s performing under duress when DCs are playing chess on the other side.
@realfootballfan. What about his broken hand with screws, and a offensive line that was dead last with over 30 different combinations. He looked good when alt was playing. They need to get a center or guard
No one is disputing any of that, but these problems aren’t new. As mentioned, Kellen Moore won a Super Bowl immediately after leaving there. Offense was mediocre his one year there. At some point, you have to look at the common denominator.
Herbert was really good this year despite an offensive line that became a disaster.
Disagree, respectfully. The problem is simple: square peg, round hole, ie, trying to make them pocket passers in the 1st place. If they want a passer, draft a better passer. Otherwise, let them run — but know their shelf-life is drastically cut and can’t pay them like a QB that will be available week in/out for years. If they want to test the market, let someone else pay to “make them a pocket passer.”
You are right, odessa, but that’s precisely what Roman does. He installs a run heavy, RPO heavy offense to take advantage of QB mobility and buy them time to adjust to NFL speed while using their natural skill set. It doesn’t forge pocket passers out of scramblers on its own, but it buys some time by offering a platform or by straight up covering up deficiencies from the QB. That’s why the ceiling exists-the offense doesn’t ever become a distributory, multiple route tree scheme, but it does buy time for mobile QBs to break in before hitting their ceiling-or washing out.
Most of the time, it’s the latter, but tons of coaches have tried this with mobile QBs and failed. Roman has a decent success rate, all things considered. Ironically, the only QB to really make good a sort of similar approach is Josh Allen, who wasn’t coached by Roman; of course, that offense did feature a lot more passing concepts than a Roman scheme does, which sort of explains it. That’s what kind of didn’t make sense about the Chargers hire. Herbert is a passer, and a good one. He can run, but he’s a passer first and foremost. He’s also a vet, not new to the league or needing college concepts. It seems like the Chargers could have taken more advantage of Herbert’s skill set with a more air based attack and a good run game separate from his own running talents.
Chargers hired him because of Harbaugh.
♫ Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain ♫
Think of all the parents that were shaking their head to that song?
Herbert just isn’t the answer. Kellen Moore left there and immediately won a Super Bowl.
Yeah, I forgot, when anyone talks about Philly’s SB win it’s always “Kellen Moore and the Eagles won….”. Lol
The offense in Philly was very much a s*** show the year before and after him getting to town. I’m not even a Moore fan, but to act like he wasn’t a significant part of the success is delusional. Meanwhile, he had dtop ranked offenses in Philly and Dallas before leaving the Cowbosy. Yet Herbert helmed a mostly mediocre offense his one year there that contributed to everyone getting fired. But he throws a pretty ball though. That’s surely what makes you a good QB.
Ultimately I think this move was inevitable and I’m glad this wasn’t dragged out over another season or two. There’s some very interesting names available and I’m mighty curious to see who gets interviewed and hired but my initial hope is Mike McDaniel
A Harbaugh is never hiring an OC like that. Look at how he hired at Michigan for an example of what he looks for. It’ll be another guy who runs the ball and isn’t too exotic passing the ball. I don’t think the plan is the problem, Herbert just has a problem performing under pressure.
This game was definitely a let down as a Herbert fan more than it is disappointing as a Chargers fan. He needed to have a good game and just didn’t but I do still believe he’s a top tier quarterback who they can win a Super Bowl with. The Harbaugh hire was out of the norm for the Chargers and I think Herbert is enough for Harbaugh to go outside his norm and honestly I think that might have already happened with this firing anyway. This is the same coach who keeps saying “I’ve got to get Herbert to the Hall of Fame where he belongs” and that doesn’t happen without MVPs and playoff wins so I’m hoping for a splash hire
There is no chance in hell Mike McDaniel is even requested for an interview. There is 0 correlation in offensive concepts between Harbaugh’s offenses and McDaniel’s. Other than him being the wunderkid of the moment, why would you even think it would work? Chargers personnel is not even a match for his scheme. Same with Kingsbury. If you were dead set on the McVay/Shanahan offense in McDaniel’s case you have better shot at looking across the hall at Rams PGC Scheelhaase. His offenses at Iowa State were similar to what Harbaugh likes to run.
McDaniel is scheduled for an interview early next week. Apparently there’s slightly more than “no chance in hell Mike McDaniel is even requested for an interview”
Sherrone Moore is available.
Out on bail?
Wow…so original!
So many comedians on PFR nowadays.
Let me guess…Ohio State fan? Sparty? Or just…desperate for attention like some random fanboy on X??
Come on you could surely do better than this if you wanted someone to laugh at you
The dude threatened to kill the college assistant he was cheating with.
Greg romin’ for a new job
Joe Alt made the pro bowl this season playing in 6 games. Whats up with that??? Are children deciding who goes to the pro bowl these days?
@hot corner. He’s the highest graded OL out of college, and is top 5 when he was playing. I dont see anything wrong with it.
All-Pro selections matter more than Pro Bowl appearances anyway.
Kind of not the point…Hot Corner made a good point….Alt in no way deserved a Pro Bowl nod having just played 6 games…don’t you get rewarded for what you actually do on the field any longer or just your rep…..