Harbaugh arrived in 2024 and went 11-6 right away. He did it again in 2025. Both seasons ended in the wild-card round: 32-12 at Houston in January 2025 and 16-3 at New England on Jan. 11, 2026, when Justin Herbert was sacked six times.

To fix the offense, the Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. He had gone 35-33 in four seasons as Miami’s head coach and interviewed for 10 jobs, six of them head coaching jobs, after the Dolphins let him go. Former Dolphins and Jets head coach Adam Gase joined the staff as a pass-game specialist.

None of the six losses came against a team with a losing record at kickoff. Three came at home, three on the road, and only one was decided by fewer than seven points.

1. Week 1, Sept. 13Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 at SoFi Stadium
2. Week 2, Sept. 20Raiders 26, Chargers 14 at SoFi Stadium
3. Week 3, Sept. 27Bills 24, Chargers 16 in Orchard Park
4. Week 4, Oct. 4Seahawks 30, Chargers 23 in Seattle
5. Week 5, Oct. 11Broncos 23, Chargers 17 at SoFi Stadium
6. Week 6, Oct. 18Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 in Kansas City

Margin of defeat, in points

The Chargers average 15.0 points a game, 30th in the league. Only Miami and Tennessee, at 14.0, score less. The team’s own numbers put the offense tied for 31st in success rate and last in expected points added per play.

Herbert has thrown five touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He threw 13 interceptions in all of 2025. In Kansas City he went 22-for-37 for 204 yards with an interception and was also the team’s leading rusher, with 26 yards.

The worst moment came in the third quarter at Arrowhead. Down 19-3, the Chargers had first-and-goal at the 1 after a 57-yard catch by Quentin Johnston. A holding penalty, a shovel pass that lost a yard and two incompletions later, they kicked a field goal.

Chargers points by game

This is the franchise’s first 0-6 start since 2000. That team finished 1-15, and its quarterback for five of those starts was Jim Harbaugh, who threw for 1,330 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Chargers own the one great comeback story at this stage. In 1992 they started 0-4 and still reached the playoffs, the only team ever to do that. No team has ever made the postseason after losing its first six games.

The defense under coordinator Chris O’Leary has kept games closer than the offense has. In Kansas City it allowed one touchdown in four red-zone trips. “He’s doing a great job. The defense is doing a great job,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh would not say whether McDaniel will keep calling plays. He said the review covers first downs, the red zone, third downs and the size of the playbook. “Definitely looking at volume and where you can make it to where the players can understand it,” he said.

Help may also come from the injury list. Harbaugh said left tackle Joe Alt, safety Derwin James Jr., cornerback Donte Jackson, receivers Tre’ Harris and Brenen Thompson, guard Kayode Awosika and edge rusher Bud Dupree are getting closer. Receiver Ladd McConkey and cornerback Deane Leonard entered the concussion protocol in Kansas City.

1. Nov. 1at Rams, the road team at SoFi Stadium
2. Nov. 8vs. Texans
3. Nov. 16at Ravens, Monday night
4. Nov. 22vs. Jets
5. Nov. 29vs. Patriots, Sunday night
6. Dec. 27at Dolphins, the only other winless team so far