The Los Angeles Chargers have announced that they have let go of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and passing game coordinator Shane Day. The firing comes amidst speculation that the Chargers could let go of head coach Brandon Staley, who hired Lombardi when he took the job in 2021.
Los Angeles Chargers Fire Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi
Lombardi led a Chargers offense that ranked ninth in points and 10th in expected points per dropback, despite fielding one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, a high-level receiving corps, and an improved offensive line. This was Lombardi’s second stint as an offensive coordinator, having called plays in Detroit in 2014 and 2015 and ranking 22nd and 18th in points.
Lombardi, a student of Sean Payton, has long been criticized for running offenses too conservative for his big-armed quarterbacks and was responsible for a scheme that kept deep passing to a minimum.
Justin Herbert ranked 28th in deep-ball passing rate at just 9.8% despite excellent accuracy and an arm for it. It was the lowest depth of target and deep-ball passing rate in his career and stands in contrast to his well-celebrated rookie year, where he ranked 22nd in deep-ball rate at 11.3%.
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The Chargers had the second-highest rate of passes behind the line of scrimmage and ranked 29th in rate of passes over 20 yards in the air. They had the third-highest rate of passes thrown short of the sticks.
The Chargers would also fail to run the ball with the lead, with the second-smallest percentage of run plays when playing with a lead in the fourth quarter.
Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs, Los Angeles lost after generating a 27-point lead, only scoring three points in the second half to lose 31-30. In the second half, the Chargers only called seven rushing plays despite holding a multiple-score lead.
Who Could the Chargers Look to for OC?
Lombardi’s firing likely means that Staley is safe. The Chargers will explore options for offensive coordinator and have not announced an internal hire to fill the role. NFL rules surrounding coordinator hires will make that easier, as they do not require permission from teams to interview position coaches around the league for the role.
In his rookie year, Herbert worked with current Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. Hamilton was the quarterbacks coach and could become a target for Los Angeles as they rebuild their offensive staff. They might also reach out to former Colts head coach Frank Reich, who was the quarterbacks coach for Carson Wentz and Nick Foles during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
The Chargers may also reach out to Mike LaFleur, the former Jets offensive coordinator who parted ways with the organization.
Former Patriots offensive coordinator and Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien may also be an option, as could Zac Robinson, the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams. Robinson and Staley overlapped their time in Los Angeles, and the former was Matthew Stafford’s quarterbacks coach during their Super Bowl run last year.
After squaring away their new offensive staff, the Chargers will have to be aggressive about addressing offensive line and receiver depth.