Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh held their year-end press conference Thursday afternoon in El Segundo.

Here are five takeaways from Hortiz and Harbaugh.

1. A change at OC

The Chargers announced Tuesday that they parted ways with Greg Roman, who served as the team's Offensive Coordinator for the past two seasons.

Harbaugh on Thursday was asked about the decision to let go of the longtime coach.

"A fresh start, a new direction," Harbaugh said.

He later added: "Greg is a great football mind, had a lot of success. Also a fresh start for him, fresh start for our team and our offense."

The Chargers also parted ways with Mike Devlin, who had been the offensive line coach over the past two seasons.

While the Chargers have posted 11 wins and made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, Harbaugh said the Bolts are not satisfied with the status quo — hence the pair of coaching changes.

Harbaugh noted that Roman and Devlin both played a role in the Chargers recent success but said it's a "results-oriented business." The Bolts have been one-and-done in back-to-back postseasons and scored just one touchdown in those two games.

"There was much that was done well, much that was done really good," Harbaugh said. "Multiple [offensive] line combinations, that was true. It was very hard, very tough. The NFL is unforgiving, it's unfair, it's hard, that's the nature of the business.

"What we feel like is a direction that's going to make us better, we're always striving for that," Harbaugh added. "Whether that's with players, coaches, myself included. It's a results-oriented business."

Harbaugh later reemphasized that point, saying that simply making it to the playoffs isn't good enough.

"Much good [in] almost two seasons, really. Got the regular season, got the postseason," Harbaugh said. "It's results oriented and as an organization we're doing everything with one goal in mind and that's to win a championship.

"We're going to do whatever is best to build for that," Harbaugh added.

The Bolts have began interviews for the Chargers offensive coordinator search, with Marcus Brady getting confirmed for an interview Thursday morning.

2. Wide net for OC search

On a general level, Harbaugh made it quite clear what he's looking for in the Chargers next offensive coordinator.

"A head coach of the offense," Harbaugh said.

He then expanded on what characteristics should stand out.

"That person that teaches, installs, puts the players in the best position to be successful," Harbaugh said. "Ultimately scores points, No. 1."

So far, Harbaugh, Hortiz and Chargers Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander have formed the interview committee.

Harbaugh noted the Bolts will cast a "wide net to get the best possible person we can" and don't have a specific timeline in mind.

But does that person need to run an offense similar to the one Roman did? One that places a focus on the brand of power football Harbaugh has routinely talked about since arriving in Southern California two years ago?

Not necessarily, Harbaugh said.

"We are open. We're not putting ourselves into where it has to be one system, one specific type of offensive system. Wide net being cast," Harbaugh said. "That persons that we interview, we're going to look for the best one that has a track record and has proven success and can show us his vision for what our offense is going to look like and be like.

"But we're open … a lot of ways to skin a cat on offense and in football. We're trying to get the very best one," Harbaugh continued.

He also added: "We're open to all philosophies."

Hortiz echoed that sentiment.

"I think with that, you explore all options. You look internally, you look externally, there's a lot of good names out there," Hortiz said. "You try to reach out to as many as you can, spend time with them and when you find the fit, you find the fit."

If one thing is for sure, the offensive cupboard certainly is not bare in Los Angeles.

The group is headline by quarterback Justin Herbert and includes Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.

Add in skill players such as 2025 first-round running back Omarion Hampton, established pass catchers in Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, plus youngsters such as Tre' Harris and Oronde Gadsden, and the Chargers new offensive coordinator will have plenty to work with.

"They're telling us the same thing. They see that," Harbaugh said.

The Chargers new offensive coordinator, by the way, will have input on selecting the offensive line coach.

"If he feels like he needs somebody to run his particular system, yes, he would have input on that." Harbaugh said.

3. Full confidence in Herbert

Speaking of Herbert...

The Chargers quarterback is likely the No. 1 reason why an offensive coordinator candidate would land with the Bolts.

"It starts with Justin. The respect, the people that want to work with him that have that same urgency that we have, I think it's genuine they see it the same way," Harbaugh said.

But don't expect Herbert to have amplified input on the Chargers next offensive play caller.

"Justin's as good, as smart as they come. I have no questions about his ability as a player. He's not looking to be the GM or the coach. It's our responsibility to put him in the best position possible," Harbaugh said.

He later added: "That's not something that he's interested in being involved in and has not been at this point ... he has not been involved in the process at this point."

Herbert displayed immense toughness in 2025 while playing in front of more than two dozen offensive line combinations and battling through a fractured left hand for the final month of the season.

Herbert was sacked 54 times in 2025, the second-highest total in the league, and also faced a league-high 263 pressures.

Harbaugh and Hortiz both reiterated a need to protect their franchise quarterback on a more consistent basis.

"At times we did, at times we didn't. We're here today, this week, and it sucks. We don't want to be here this week, we want to be here four weeks from now," Hortiz said. "Did we do Justin a disservice or any word you want to put? We weren't good enough and our goal is to be good enough. We did Dean [Spanos] a disservice, I did Coach [Harbaugh] a disservice. All of us together.

"We want to win the Super Bowl, so we got to get better. How do you get better? You attack it. You spend weeks, months, having conversations leading up to free agency, leading up to the draft and you make the best decisions you can in that moment for the team," Hortiz added. "We continue to try to add players at all times to help the team be as good as we can. Ultimately, until we win the Super Bowl I'll tell you we weren't good enough."

Harbaugh added: "It's our responsibility to get up to [Herbert's] level. We are continually striving to do that."

Hortiz was also asked about why Herbert was constantly being pressured in the pocket.

"I think there's multiple things that go into that. Health is certainly one," Hortiz said. "Having players, making it more competitive. I think that's what you look at in this offseason: how do we get better?

"Both from a schematic standpoint and a player standpoint. To say there's an answer today, there's not," Hortiz added. "That's what the offseason is for: how do we improve those things?"

As for the big picture, the Chargers brass let it be known they wouldn't want any other player at quarterback.

"Justin's a winner," Harbaugh said. "I don't think there's anyone who could watch him — the way he prepares, trains, the level of talent — and not say that he's a winner. 100 percent in my mind."

Hortiz added: "I'm concerned that we didn't win [in the playoffs]. It has nothing to do with any individual player."

4. Jesse Minter on the move?

Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter has already completed multiple head coaching interviews.

And Harbaugh said Thursday that Minter has requests from "all" nine teams with a current vacancy.

That means the Bolts could be searching for a new defensive coordinator, too, something Harbaugh and Hortiz have already thought through.

"Not so much a question of 'if', we've known that," Harbaugh said. "It's a question of 'when.'

"The product that Jesse has established as the head coach of the defense, that's so good that we know it's a matter of when. We've been preparing for that," Harbaugh added.

Hortiz said: "You're prepared ... you have a list of candidates ready if he does depart. We have a lot of great coaches on the staff, on the defensive staff that will be considered, too, if he does depart. We got great players here, on both sides of the ball. I have confidence in them that if Jesse does get an opportunity, which would be well deserved, we'll be able to adjust."

Harbaugh said the Chargers would take the same approach to a vacant defensive coordinator job as they currently are for the open offensive coordinator role.

"I think you've got to look at it internally and externally. I do. You've got to talk to people and I think that's the best way to do it," Hortiz said. "Whether you hire internally, externally that's the final decision you make. But I think when you have an opportunity to speak to people outside of the building, one about their schemes, their philosophies, about their coaches, but then also they can give you some nuggets on their team because they're taking a look at you.

"You can get some ideas on that. I think it's a great opportunity for us to learn a lot about the candidates and learn a little about ourselves, too," Hortiz added.

Harbaugh and Hortiz noted that they would be open to a change in scheme if Minter were to depart.

"The players we have on defense, I think they are scheme versatile. If you look at what we do on defense, we play multiple schemes already," Hortiz said. "Guys fit in different ways depending on what grouping we have out there on the field. We just want the best candidate if we're in that position."

Of course, there's always the chance Minter doesn't get a head coaching job. Harbaugh and Hortiz lit up at that scenario.

"If it doesn't work out for Jesse, we'll be glad to have him back. I love Jesse and have known Jesse since he worked with us in Baltimore and obviously Coach brought him over from Michigan," Hortiz said. "As Coach said, it's a 'when' and not an 'if.' We'll keep Jesse as long as he wants to be here. But I don't know how long that's going to be."

Harbaugh added: "If there's a way, we would love to find it."

A final note on the coaching staff.

While Hortiz and Harbaugh said they don't expect more staff changes at this time, the Chargers will be looking for new linebackers coach as NaVorro Bowman is stepping down to focus on his family. Bowman's son is a highly-ranked high school basketball player.

"NaVorro Bowman has decided to step back from coaching," Hortiz said. "For those of you who don't know, his son is an elite hooper. He wants to be a dad and help guide him through the process of college and selecting a college.

"As a father, excited for Bo, as a general manager and teammate of Bo here, I'm disappointed," Hortiz said. "I love him and he did a great job. I understand his thought process. We'll miss him."

5. Plenty of salary cap space

The 2026 offseason is only a few days old for the Chargers.

But it's never too early to take a peek at the coming months.

The Chargers hold the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Chargers currently have 27 players slated to be free agents in March.

"I talked to a lot of them on Monday. Not all of them," Hortiz said of potential free agents. "But those guys know we love them and would love to have them all back. Been engaged with some of their agents already. We're just going to work through it and get as many of them back as we can.

"Now, it's free agency and guys are up. But we're going to fight to keep as many players as we can," Hortiz said. "Certainly, you have the conversations and try to get it done. If it doesn't work out, you have to have to have a plan to pivot."

One way the Chargers could retain some of their own guys? The fact that the Chargers 2206 salary cap space is projected to be north of $100 million.

A year ago, the Chargers had roughly $60 million in projected cap space after the season as Hortiz said the team would be "responsible and clinical" in their approach.

Does that mindset change at all in 2026?

"I don't want to spend recklessly, I know that. We have a number of guys that are up and hopefully we can let them eat into some of that cap space. I'd like to give some of that to them," Hortiz said. "I think you have to make smart decisions in free agency. I've said it over and over, if you chase perceived needs in free agency and the draft then you end up, more often than not, overpaying or making a mistake.

"We do have to be calculated, have to be smart. We have to be all-in on the player and believe in the player. We'll spend money, but we're going to spend money internally, too, because there's a lot of guys we'd like to have back," Hortiz added.

Hortiz noted that while the Chargers didn't spend all of their 2025 cap space, that turned out to be a smart move that allowed them to be able to make an October trade for Odafe Oweh's hefty contract.

"We had the flexibility, by leaving some, to trade for Odafe and take on that big number. So you have to be smart and spend but also leave yourself some flexibility," Hortiz said.

Finally, Hortiz was asked about wide receiver Quentin Johnston. The deadline to exercise his fifth-year option is May 1.

"We haven't had talks about that yet. Again, it's early," Hortiz said. "But I'll say this. I love Q and the growth he's made, the development he's made from Year 1 to Year 3 has been awesome to see. I'm a big fan of Q."