Leigh Steinberg Defends Chargers After 0-2 Start, pointing to Jim Harbaugh and 15 remaining games as reasons for patience.
Leigh Steinberg Defends Chargers After 0-2 Start, saying the Los Angeles team still has plenty of time to recover after a difficult opening stretch.
Chargers stumble to an 0-2 start
The Los Angeles Chargers entered the 2026 season with expectations of competing in the AFC, but the opening two weeks have quickly created questions around the team.
Los Angeles lost to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 before falling to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. Both opponents were considered teams the Chargers were expected to handle, making the 0-2 record particularly frustrating.
The Chargers have also struggled with turnovers. Through two games, they have a minus-four turnover differential and have averaged only 14 points per game.
Leigh Steinberg points to Jim Harbaugh
Despite the disappointing start, longtime sports agent Leigh Steinberg does not believe the Chargers should be written off after only two games.
Steinberg pointed specifically to head coach Jim Harbaugh and his ability to make adjustments as the season progresses.
He argued that there are still 15 games remaining and that the coaching staff can use film from the opening losses to identify and correct problems.
Harbaugh’s track record matters
Harbaugh has already guided the Chargers to consecutive 11-6 regular-season records in his first two seasons with the franchise.
Los Angeles reached the playoffs in both seasons but was eliminated in the wild-card round each time.
For Steinberg, that recent history is part of the reason he believes it is too early to make sweeping conclusions about the team’s season.
Two games are not the whole season
Steinberg also pushed back against the idea that Harbaugh should already be facing questions about his job.
He described the first two weeks as too small a sample to make major judgments, particularly when the team still has most of its schedule ahead.
The Chargers’ early mistakes, particularly their turnovers, are issues that can potentially be addressed through preparation and adjustments.
A difficult stretch is coming
The road back will not necessarily be easy.
The Chargers’ next six opponents include the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.
That stretch could provide a much clearer indication of where Los Angeles stands.
The offense needs to improve
While Steinberg remains patient, the Chargers will need better offensive production to turn his optimism into meaningful results.
A 14-point scoring average through two games has left little margin for error, while the turnover problems have repeatedly put pressure on the team.
Reducing giveaways and finding greater consistency on offense will be among the major challenges facing Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Steinberg sees room for a turnaround
The Chargers’ 0-2 record is an undeniable setback, but Steinberg believes the season is far from decided.
His argument centers on experience, coaching and the amount of football still remaining on the schedule.
Whether Los Angeles can make the necessary adjustments will become clearer as the Chargers face a much tougher portion of their schedule.
For now, Steinberg’s message is that two losses should not erase what the Chargers accomplished during Harbaugh’s first two seasons or determine the direction of an entire 2026 campaign.
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