Adam Gase Returns to the NFL
Adam Gase is making a comeback. After his firing from the Jets back in 2020, he’s resurfaced as an assistant coach for the Chargers, focusing on their passing game. It’s been a five-year break for him, but, well, here he is.
At 47, Gase spent the last few years contributing to the football think tank known as the 33rd Team, alongside other notable former coaches like Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. Quite a change in scenery from being a head coach, right?
Before this recent hire, Gase had a lengthy coaching career in the NFL spanning from 2005 to 2020. He led the Miami Dolphins from 2016 to 2018 and then took the reins with the Jets from 2019 to 2020. Under his leadership, the Dolphins made it to the playoffs in 2016, though things fell apart afterward, and he struggled to find success thereafter.
His time with the Jets was particularly challenging. Winning just nine games in his final season, they even started with a franchise-low 0-13 record. Gase eventually got the ax after a season-ending defeat against the Patriots.
Interestingly, one of the biggest criticisms of Gase was his inability to develop quarterback Sam Darnold, who was a first-round draft pick for the Jets. After Gase’s departure, Darnold moved on and later helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl victory.
Following the playoff loss to the Patriots, the Chargers made several changes to their coaching staff. They parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, bringing in Mike McDaniel, who had previously coached the Dolphins. Additionally, Chris O’Leary stepped in as the new defensive coordinator after Jesse Minter took the head coaching role in Baltimore.
With McDaniel there, Gase will have a wealth of talent to work with for the Chargers’ offense. He’ll collaborate closely with star quarterback Justin Herbert, and there are also players like Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei to consider. Moreover, wide receivers Rad McConkie and Keenan Allen are impressive assets, both having accumulated over 700 yards in the 2025 season.
The Chargers have seen playoff appearances in Jim Harbaugh’s first two seasons and qualified again in 2022 under Brandon Staley, but all these runs ended without victory in the wild-card round. Maybe, just maybe, Gase can breathe new life into his career in Los Angeles and help change that narrative.
