Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers had another fourth-quarter lead Sunday, but they let it slip away against the Denver Broncos. By the time the AFC West matchup ended, the Chargers had suffered another loss, dropped to 0–5, and given critics more reason to question whether Harbaugh is the right man for the job in LA.
Jim Harbaugh Draws Criticism After Chargers’ Disaster Vs. Broncos
The Chargers lost 23–17 to their division rival after taking a 17–10 lead into the fourth quarter. A failed fourth-down attempt gave Denver an opening, and the Broncos followed with a game-tying touchdown drive.
Justin Herbert then lost a fumble and threw an interception on consecutive possessions, helping Denver score 13 unanswered points.
The late collapse left Harbaugh facing more questions after another game slipped away.
“Jim Harbaugh may not have been the reason his team was 0-4, but he’s the biggest reason they’re now 0-5,” Chad Andrus of “104.3 The Fan” remarked.
Former executive Connie Carberg questioned how Harbaugh could keep his job after the latest loss.
“How does Jim Harbaugh keep his job? He said Herbert is gonna be the greatest quarterback of all time! Herbert never had the ‘killer instinct’ as a QB, even at Oregon,”Carberg wrote.
Herbert struggled to get much going against Denver. He finished with 121 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. His late pick came with the Chargers trailing by three and gave the Broncos another opportunity to score.
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With that showing, Herbert now ranks dead last among 33 listed quarterbacks with a PFN QB Impact Score of 60.9. With Herbert struggling and the Chargers still winless, Harbaugh faces mounting pressure to turn things around.
Chargers Critics Call for Changes Beyond Jim Harbaugh
Steven Haglund of “Guilty As Charged Podcast” spread the blame beyond the head coach, calling out the team’s leadership.
“Chargers fans and Chargers players deserve better than what Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel and Joe Hortiz are giving them in 2026. Very bad football team,”Haglund wrote.
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Alex Insdorf pointed out that Harbaugh had reached a low point the Chargers had avoided under several of his predecessors.
“Jim Harbaugh clinched the worst franchise start in 23 years. Not Brandon Staley, not Anthony Lynn, not Mike McCoy. Harbaugh did,”Insdorf wrote.
Insdorf went a step further, calling for major changes to the team’s leadership. “I don’t really think Harbaugh, Hortiz, or McDaniel should survive this season,”he added.
Those reactions show how quickly the conversation has shifted to job security. The Chargers had a chance to quiet some of the noise Sunday after scoring twice in the third quarter, but their fourth-quarter collapse only fueled more questions about the team’s direction.
Next up is a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Harbaugh badly needs a win, but the schedule has an unpleasant sense of humor.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.