The Los Angeles Chargers and their fans have more optimism than they have had in recent memory after the team hired Jim Harbaugh to be the new head coach recently.
Harbaugh brings a history of turning teams around and the knowledge of how to build a winning culture, two things the Chargers have badly needed for a long time.
They made another addition to his staff on Tuesday when they brought in Nick Hardwick, a former star center for them, to be their assistant offensive line coach, per Mike Garafolo.
The #Chargers are hiring their former Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick as their assistant offensive line coach, sources say.
Hardwick, who played 11 seasons in San Diego, kicks off his NFL coaching career in LA after serving as an assistant coach for Westfield (Ind.) High School. pic.twitter.com/HixiVMrHXz
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 13, 2024
Hardwick was a third-round draft choice by the Chargers in 2004 back when they played in San Diego, and he quickly developed into a key member of a core that was very competitive.
In 2006, he made the Pro Bowl, and he played a big role in running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s historic season in which he ran for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The Chargers went 14-2 that season, but they suffered a rough 24-21 loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Hardwick played 11 seasons in the NFL, all of them coming with the Bolts, and he retired following the 2014 season, a season in which he was limited to one game because of a serious neck injury.
The Chargers’ coaching staff has largely taken shape by now, with Greg Roman, Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers a decade ago, serving in that capacity now, and Jesse Minter hired to be their defensive coordinator.
Minter had been Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator for the last two seasons at the University of Michigan.
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