A Bold Move by the Chargers

A bold move by the Chargers has been taken. Former Jets HC Adam Gase will be joining the team as an assistant focusing on the passing game.  

(AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)

The Chargers making the decision to bring Adam Gase in as a passing game assistant is the kind of move that instantly splits a fanbase. Some people hear the name and immediately think of the Jets era. With awkward press conferences, struggling offenses, and a team that never seemed to find a real identity. Others remember the earlier version of Gase, the one who built a reputation as a creative offensive mind and a coach who understood how to maximize a passing attack. Both versions exist, and that’s exactly why this hire feels like a gamble.

Early in his coaching career, Gase built a strong reputation working with elite quarterbacks and helping structure efficient passing offenses. His time in Denver alongside Peyton Manning is still the biggest selling point on his resume. That Broncos offense was explosive, detail-oriented, and aggressive through the air. Even during his early run in Miami, there were stretches where the passing game looked sharp and organized, and Ryan Tannehill played some of the best football of his career under Gase. That version of Gase is probably what the Chargers believe they’re getting. A coach who can help fine-tune the details rather than control the entire offense. But there’s another side to the story that can’t be ignored. His tenure with the New York Jets left a lasting negative impression across the league. The offense often looked predictable, quarterback development stalled, and the passing game lacked creativity and consistency. Whether it was poor roster construction, organizational dysfunction, or coaching limitations, the end result was the same: a passing attack that never found rhythm. As well as Super Bowl Champion Sam Darnold's early disappointments can be connected to Gase. That’s the part of Gase’s history that makes this move feel risky, especially for a team trying to maximize a franchise quarterback in his prime.

And that’s where Justin Herbert becomes the center of the conversation. Herbert has proven he can produce regardless of the chaos. Different coordinators, shaky offensive line stretches, and constant system adjustments haven’t stopped him from putting up elite numbers. Still, the Chargers can’t afford to experiment in ways that slow down his growth or complicate an offense that already works best when it’s aggressive and vertically focused. Adding a coach with a polarizing offensive track record raises legitimate questions about whether the passing game will become more structured and efficient or more conservative and rigid.

Supporters of the move will argue that Gase isn’t being hired to run the entire offense. As a passing game assistant, his role will likely be more about details, film study, route concepts, and quarterback communication rather than play-calling authority. In theory, that’s where a coach with his experience could provide real value. Helping Herbert recognize defensive tendencies, refine timing, and adjust protections within the passing scheme. If that’s the version of Gase the Chargers get, this hire could quietly strengthen the offense. The concern is that coaching influence matters more than titles suggest. Even as an assistant, philosophical shifts can happen behind the scenes. If the passing game starts leaning toward the conservative tendencies that showed up during his later head coaching years, it could limit the explosive identity that makes Herbert special. Chargers fans have already seen how frequent coaching changes can disrupt offensive rhythm, so skepticism around any polarizing hire is completely fair.

Ultimately, this move feels less like a home run and more like a calculated risk. The Chargers are betting that the early-career offensive mind of Adam Gase still exists and that his experience can help refine a passing attack built around one of the league’s most talented quarterbacks. If it works, it could add another layer of intelligence and efficiency to Herbert’s game. If it doesn’t, it may become another example of a team overthinking a formula that didn’t need fixing in the first place.