Chargers

The Chargers are making their postseason debut under head coach Jim Harbaugh. This marks a significant achievement in Harbaugh’s first year, as expectations were high for him to bring his successful track record to Los Angeles. Chargers safety Derwin James spoke about the notable differences under Harbaugh’s leadership and his strong bond with the coach.

“Culture,” James stated, referring to Harbaugh’s influence, via SI.com’s Albert Breer. “He gave us a culture. We know who we are when we look in the mirror. I feel like we’re building that team that nobody wants to play. We don’t have to rah-rah or go talk on Twitter. We’re just going to continue to show how we play week in and week out. We’re doing a great job with coach Harbaugh leading us.”

“I love him so much. He’s like a father away from home—not just a coach, but a father, teaching me how to become a better leader. I just want to give everything for that man. I’m happy he’s my coach. … He’s authentic. He’s real. You know what you’re going to get every day. His track record speaks for itself; everywhere he’s been, he’s been winning.”

Chargers

The Chargers officially secured a playoff berth in Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural season. Following the Week 17 victory that ensured their spot, Harbaugh took a moment to commend GM Joe Hortiz.

“He takes no deep, long bows, but he should,” Harbaugh emphasized, as reported by Kris Rhim of ESPN. “He should take a very deep, long bow for just how good he is and what he’s been able to do with this team.”

Hortiz acknowledged the efforts of assistant GM Chad Alexander, commending his skills as both a talent evaluator and a leader within the front office.

“The great thing with Chad is he can just run with it,” Hortiz remarked. “He’s such a great leader. He’s a great evaluator, extremely intelligent, organized, and has everything laid out before I even go in there. It’s great.”

Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter also praised Hortiz for his ability to recruit players who fit their system seamlessly.

“I think Joe has done a great job bringing in players whose skillset fits what we do,” Minter commented.

Raiders

As the offseason approaches, the Raiders face significant uncertainties at the quarterback position and may miss out on premier options in the 2025 NFL Draft. Antonio Pierce expressed confidence in Aidan O’Connell, asserting he views him as a “starting” caliber quarterback following Week 17.

“I think Aidan O’Connell will be a starting NFL quarterback,” Pierce stated, as reported by ProFootballTalk.

Pierce continued to commend O’Connell’s resilience since the last offseason.

“I think he’s been resilient, obviously going back to the quarterback competition in the spring and training camp,” Pierce explained. “He handled it like a pro. He was always ready to go. When we decided to start him—especially during the Rams game—he gave us a good chance. Even after he got injured and returned, he demonstrated resilience. Just like last year, the more reps he gets, the more opportunities, he capitalizes on them. Whenever he protects the football, he positions us better.”