“Super excited about Kirk. He’s a fantastic coach… just really excited about what he can bring to our football team.” Jim Harbaugh’s 2023 praise for Kirk Campbell now feels prophetic. Fast-forward to 2025, and the Chargers’ head coach is doubling down on trust, reuniting with his former Michigan lieutenant in Los Angeles. But while Harbaugh builds his coaching Avengers, the Chargers’ roster is teetering on a cliffhanger: will key veterans stay or plunge into free agency? Let’s huddle up.

Harbaugh’s coaching carousel has always favored familiar faces. Enter Kirk Campbell, the man who helped mold J.J. McCarthy into a national champ at Michigan. In 2023, Campbell’s QB whisperer magic saw McCarthy shatter records with a 72.3% completion rate and a microscopic 1.20% INT rate—stats that’d make even Tom Brady nod approvingly. But when Campbell got promoted to OC in 2024? Michigan’s offense tanked harder than Logan Roy losing his temper in a boardroom, ranking 128th in total yards. Cue the exit music.

Yet Jim Harbaugh, ever the loyalist, sees gold in the rubble. “I’m very confident in Kirk’s ability. He’s been preparing… as well as anybody I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh declared last August. Now, Campbell joins the Chargers as an offensive assistant, swapping maize-and-blue for powder blue. His task? Reignite Justin Herbert’s rocket arm while navigating an NFL playbook. If Campbell’s college adaptability (“We’re under center, we’re running play-action, we’re running drop back game, we’re running empty. We do everything.”) translates, Herbert could morph from star QB to MVP cheat code.

But let’s not forget Campbell’s origin story. Before Michigan, he was dropping 34.7 PPG at Division II Alderson Broaddus—a Moneyball grind that Harbaugh admires. “I’ve been preparing for this since 3rd grade,” Campbell once said. Now, he’s coaching in a stadium where the crowd’s ‘Charge!’ chant hits like Thor’s hammer. The Chargers’ culture—a blend of SoFi Stadium tailgates and ‘Bolt Up’ swagger—needs Campbell’s Xs-and-Os grit. If he thrives, L.A.’s offense could go from “meh” to Madden glitch.

Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers on the verge: Free agency roulette & cap space chaos

While Harbaugh stacks his staff, the Chargers’ roster faces a mini exodus. With cap space tighter than SpongeBob’s pants at the Krusty Krab, veterans like Khalil Mack might bolt. And who’s lurking? The Packers, armed with $40M+ in cap space and a shopping list. They’re looking to snap up not one, but two of the Chargers’ defensive linemen this offseason.

1. Khalil Mack (Edge): Flashback to 2018—the Packers nearly traded for Mack. Now 34, he’s no spring chicken, but pairing him with Rashan Gary would be like Batman and Robin—if Batman occasionally took naps. Mack’s 6 sacks in ‘24 don’t dazzle, but his pressure rate? Chef’s kiss.

2. Asante Samuel Jr. (CB): Samuel’s 2024 season ended with a stinger, but his 37 pass breakups since 2021 scream “lockdown potential.” For Green Bay’s secondary—a unit currently thinner than The Office’s Kevin’s chili—Samuel’s coverage grade (75+ in ‘22/‘23) is a lifeline.

The Packers’ other targets on the cheap include the Colts‘ Ryan Kelly (C), the Jets‘ Davante Adams (WR), and the Saints‘ Paulson Adebo (CB).

L.A.’s culture is a cocktail of Hollywood flash and football grit. From the “Holy Roller” game’s chaos to Keenan Allen’s gravity-defying 2024 catch, this franchise thrives on drama. But with free agency looming, the Chargers’ 2024 playoff run—an 11-6 record and a No. 1 ranked defense (17.7 PPG allowed)—feels bittersweet. Losing Mack or others could sting like Tony Romo’s playoff luck.

Yet, under Jim Harbaugh’s quirky leadership (see: khaki obsession), the Chargers are building something resilient. Campbell’s hire isn’t just about playbooks—it’s about restoring the “college fight” to pros. As Harbaugh would say, “Who’s got it better than us? NOBODY!” Well, maybe the Packers if they poach L.A.’s stars. Buckle up—this offseason’s a rollercoaster.