Adam Gase resurfaces with Chargers after lengthy NFL absence

Adam Gase has returned.

After being fired by the Jets in 2020, Gase is back in the NFL as the Chargers’ assistant coach for the passing game following a five-year absence.

Gase, 47, spent his time away from coaching with football think tank The 33rd Team, alongside fellow former coaches Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia.

Prior to that development, Gase coached in the NFL from 2005-20, including as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2016-18 and Jets from 2019-20. Gase led the Dolphins to the playoffs in 2016 but failed to do so again for the rest of his head coaching career.

His tenure with the Jets was abysmal. Gase won just nine games, including a franchise-worst 0-13 start in 2020, and he was fired just hours after New York’s season-ending loss to the Patriots.

Notably, Gase failed to develop quarterback Sam Darnold in the first-round pick’s last two years with the Jets. Darnold was let go after the season and has since become a Super Bowl-winning signal-caller with Seattle.

The Chargers’ coaching staff has seen multiple changes following their playoff loss to the Patriots. They fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replaced him with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.

After defensive coordinator Jesse Minter accepted Baltimore’s head coach position, Los Angeles brought in Chris O’Leary.

Alongside McDaniel, Gase has plenty of weapons to work with on the Chargers’ offense. In his new role, he will work closely with star quarterback Justin Herbert, while Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei are other options currently on their depth chart.

Receivers Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen — who each hauled in over 700 yards in 2025 — headline a strong receiving core as well.

Los Angeles has made the playoffs in both of Jim Harbaugh’s first two seasons with the program and clinched a berth in 2022 under Brandon Staley. However, all three runs ended in wild-card losses.

Maybe Gase can revitalize his career in L.A. and help end that trend.