Chargers announce intriguing changes under Jim Harbaugh

The Los Angeles Chargers announced multiple adjustments to head coach Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff on Thursday.

Los Angeles promoted Steve Clinkscale to defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach, Shane Day to offensive passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach and Mike Elston to defensive run game coordinator/defensive line coach. Josh Hammond moved into the role of assistant wide receivers/assistant special teams coach, while Mike Hiestand became defensive run game specialist.

The franchise also added Jarrod James, Jimmy Thompson and Beau Snuggs as Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellows for the 2026 season. James arrives after spending 2025 at Maryland and previously worked with the Houston Texans from 2022-24, contributing to two playoff appearances and two postseason wins. Thompson joins after five seasons at Vanderbilt, where the program finished 10-3 in 2025 and reached No. 15 nationally after entering the Associated Press top 10 twice. Snuggs comes from Western Michigan, where the Broncos compiled a 10-4 record and won the Mid-American Conference championship in 2025.

The Chargers finished the 2025 season with an 11-6 record, matching their mark from 2024. Los Angeles opened 3-0 for the first time since 2002 and secured consecutive playoff berths for the first time since 2008-09. The Chargers, however, failed to end a 15-year AFC West title drought and were eliminated in the Wild Card round after a 16-3 loss to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots.