Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Future of Chargers OC could change following Jim Harbaugh hiring

Following their hiring of former University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh to serve in the same role, the Los Angeles Chargers may now view offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as more dispensable.

It was reported earlier this week that the Chargers had denied the Chicago Bears' request to interview Moore for their vacant offensive coordinator post. 

The Bears have since hired Shane Waldron for the gig, but the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are two teams that still have intriguing openings.

The Browns parted ways with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt last week and the Eagles said goodbye to Brian Johnson on Tuesday.

Cleveland made a surprise run to the playoffs this winter, buoyed by the stunning renaissance of quarterback Joe Flacco. If he returns to the team in the fall, the former Super Bowl MVP isn't expected to be the starter with Deshaun Watson back and healthy.

Watson has been a disaster since joining the Browns, but the former three-time Pro Bowler is still only 28 years old. If he can show any kind of resemblance to the player he used to be, the offensive coordinator position becomes that much more attractive. 

With a healthy return of stud running back Nick Chubb, joined by the likes of five-time Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper and 2023 first-time Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku, Moore could fit nicely with the AFC North club.

Everyone knows what a fully functioning Eagles offense looks like, as the combination of quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert is one of the best quartets in the NFC. The group helped lead Philadelphia to the Super Bowl last year and bringing in Moore could be a big move to try and get them back to that stage.

Three years after his brief playing career ended in 2015, Moore joined the Dallas Cowboys as their quarterbacks coach in 2018. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019 and held the role for four seasons before joining Los Angeles for the 2023 campaign.

Under Moore, the Chargers offense ranked 18th in total yards (329.4) and 21st in scoring (20.4 points per game), though star quarterback Justin Herbert was limited to a career-low 13 games due to injury.

No. 2 wideout Mike Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 3, leading to Joshua Palmer taking over as the second option behind six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. 

Palmer missed six games with a knee injury, Allen was out for four contests and standout running back Austin Ekeler missed three contests as well.

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