Los Angeles Chargers Struggles Draw Criticism from Rob Gronkowski

As the 2026 NFL season advances to Week 3, teams are beginning to reveal their strengths and weaknesses. For the Los Angeles Chargers, former tight end Rob Gronkowski has criticized their early performances.

Gronkowski shared his views from New York during a promotional event. Initially mentioning the Miami Dolphins, he expected their challenges due to roster challenges. However, he expressed surprise regarding the Chargers, led by coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who started the season 0-2. They have faced the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, teams that many would not have predicted to make the playoffs.

“That’s a mess over there right now,” Gronkowski stated. “They gotta just grab a Bounty paper towel and wipe off all their linemen, because they’re not clean. They’re dirty and they’re falling all over the place. Get the blocks down schematically and keep Justin Herbert clean in the pocket so he can perform.”

The Chargers were anticipated to be key Super Bowl contenders, especially with McDaniel’s known offensive strategies. Still, their current performance shows only an average of 14 points per game, placing them 23rd in total offensive yards per game. The struggles are reflected in the tape, as quarterback Justin Herbert’s performance also suffers. Herbert has only thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions, connecting just 59.3% of his throws.

Grknowski emphasizes that the blame cannot solely be on one aspect or player, highlighting the collective failures of the team.

“It’s not just one thing that’s going wrong. It’s a lot of things going wrong,” Gronkowski commented. “The quarterback just not playing good ball, the offensive coordinator just not reading his team and not putting them in the right position. Offensive line is stinking it [up]. The wide receivers just not making the plays when they need to. It’s a collective of everything.”

The Chargers face a tough schedule, including future games against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.

Despite the difficulties, the Chargers need a comprehensive approach to improve. Gronkowski insists football is a team game, so addressing these challenges is crucial for their success.