3x Super Bowl champ picks Jim Harbaugh to dethrone Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs in AFC West

The Jim Harbaugh-led Los Angeles Chargers and Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs are two of the best teams in the AFC West. The Kansas City Chiefs topped the division in 2024, compiling a 15-2 record. The Chargers also performed admirably, ending the regular season with an 11-6 record.

Jim Harbaugh's Chargers bowed out early due to a loss against the Houston Texans in the wild card round, while the Chiefs went all the way to the Super Bowl where they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

With the 2025 regular season on the horizon, three-time Super Bowl champ Mark Schlereth believes that Jim Harbaugh's side has what it takes to dethrone Mahomes and Co. as the division champs in the upcoming season. Speaking on the 'Breakfast Ball', he said:

"The team in the AFC West with the best chance to take down the Chiefs this year? My answer may surprise you. I'm gonna go, no, I'm actually gonna go with the (Los Angeles) Chargers."

Schlereth continued:

"They won 11 games last season. You know, I look at their roster—they went out and got Mekhi Becton, I love Ladd McConkey, I love him as a receiver, obviously."

The former Denver Broncos guard concluded:

"I think Herbert is outstanding. I don't think he's been coached exceptionally well until last year."

Mark Schlereth knows something about winning, as he was part of a dominant Denver Broncos side that thrived in the late 90s and early 2000s. He won three Super Bowl games, namely XXVI, XXXII and XXXIII.

Schlereth believes that the presence of Jim Harbaugh in the dugout could elevate Justin Herbert, which should make the Los Angeles Chargers the team to beat in the AFC West. Other teams to watch out for in the division are Schlereth's former side, the Denver Broncos, and the Pete Carroll-coached Las Vegas Raiders.

What's next for Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers?

Jim Harbaugh is entering his second season as the head coach of the Chargers. The popular offensive-minded coach got the job after spending nine campaigns as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Harbaugh will aim for a much better showing than last year, which saw his team get dumped from the playoffs unceremoniously.

Jim Harbaugh is preparing the team for the minicamp, which both veterans and rookies will attend. It'll give Harbaugh and his coaching staff a better understanding of their players.

The Chargers will start their 2025 regular season with a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. A win in that game would provide the perfect backdrop to ensure that Schlereth's prediction comes to pass.