Former Dolphins HC Announces NFL Return With AFC Super Bowl Contender

The NFL offseason has begun in earnest after the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. One of the teams that fell victim to the Patriots during their run to the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Chargers, has added some juice to its coaching staff with a former New York Jets Head coach.

Chargers Add Former Dolphins HC to Their Coaching Staff

Adam Gase made his name as the offensive coordinator for Peyton Manning in the Denver Broncos back in 2013. That Broncos’ offense, of course, set records, including Peyton Manning breaking the single-season record for touchdown passes.

Ian Rapoport wrote on X, ” He’s back: After a five-year hiatus, Adam Gase returns to coaching in the NFL, joining the #Chargers as an assistant focusing on the passing game, sources say. The former #Jets and #Dolphins coach rose in the ranks as a record-setting offensive mind. Now back to his roots in LA.”

Gase was at the controls of that offense, and the Broncos rode it all the way to Super Bowl 43, where they lost in blowout fashion to the Seattle Seahawks. Gase would move on from Denver to Chicago to work with Jay Cutler after being let go by Gary Kubiak in Denver.

Gase would work with John Fox again in Denver for one more season before landing the top job in Miami for the Dolphins. Gase was in Miami for three seasons before being let go and catching on with the New York Jets.

The most memorable moment from his tenure with the Jets was a bizarre press conference. Apart from that, his Jets teams never made the playoffs and posted the worst start in franchise history, going 0-13 in what turned out to be Gase’s final season as a coach until now.

He’s back: After a five-year hiatus, Adam Gase returns to coaching in the NFL, joining the #Chargers as an assistant focusing on the passing game, sources say.

The former #Jets and #Dolphins coach rose in the ranks as a record-setting offensive mind. Now back to his roots in LA. pic.twitter.com/swCKTPt1bm

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2026

Now, Gase will join Jim Harbaugh and an offensive staff that was left searching for answers after a disastrous showing in the playoffs against the Patriots. Justin Herbert is as talented as any quarterback in the NFL, ranking 11th on the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics.

In the 2025-26 season, Herbert finished the year with 26 touchdown passes to just 13 interceptions. His passer rating dipped below 100 for the season, but he battled injuries both to himself and those around him.

Herbert played through a fracture in his left hand, which hampered him midway through the season.

What was more devastating was the injuries to those around him. Herbert lost both of his starting tackles during the season. With Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater sidelined for the year, the passing game failed to reach the heights they hoped for in 2025.

As a result, the passing game sputtered, and the Chargers were one-and-done for the second consecutive year under Harbaugh.

That’s not going to cut it with someone as talented as Herbert is. The Chargers are hoping the addition of Gase, along with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, will unlock Herbert and help him and his passing offense reach their full potential.

Gase has a history of unlocking supremely talented quarterbacks and taking them to new heights. Expecting them to be as good as the 2013 Broncos would set Chargers fans up for disappointment.

Getting in the top-10 of the NFL? That should be an expectation.