Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers wasted little time in making their first coaching change following the loss to the Patriots. Per the team, offensive coordinator Greg Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin are both being relieved of duties just two days after the offense scored three points in their second consecutive loss in the postseason.
However, it will not be a complete gutting of the offensive line as the Chargers will retain former long-time center and assistant offensive line coach Nick Hardwick.
In a season where just about every player who earned snaps along the front line failed to meet expectations, the Bolts seemingly believe none of that had anything to do with Hardwick’s coaching. I do agree this is the right thing to do as Hardwick is just beginning his coaching career at the NFL level, but I think this will come with some understandable questions.
Starting center Bradley Bozeman ended the 2025 season allowing the most pressures in a single season of his career and had his lowest Pro Football Focus season grade (51.7) since being drafted in 2018. While Bozeman was never a “good” center by modern standards in the NFL, I question how was he so bad this year despite being familiar with the offensive system under Roman?
Was Devlin that bad of a coach? How much time did Hardwick spend with Bozeman? I would think quite a great deal if you’re the best center in team history and your starter was underwhelming each and every week. Why was nothing getting through to Bozeman?
Devlin very much had to go. Five Chargers offensive linemen finished this season with the worst single-season grade by PFF of their careers: Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Austin Deculus, Mekhi Becton, and Zion Johnson.
Now, we can only hope Hardwick was not part of the position’s lackluster performance. I don’t believe he was, but that question will remain until he and the new coaches of that group, can prove otherwise next season.
