You’re looking for the Bolts. We get it. But first, let’s address the elephant in the room that some fans still haven't quite processed: they aren't in San Diego anymore. It’s been years since the move, yet the muscle memory of typing "San Diego Chargers" is real. If you are asking do the San Diego Chargers play today, the short, blunt answer is no.
The Los Angeles Chargers—the name they’ve gone by since 2017—officially saw their 2025-2026 season come to a grinding halt just a few days ago.
It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you were hoping to see Justin Herbert uncorking a 60-yard bomb this afternoon, I’ve got some bad news. The team was eliminated in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, January 11. They traveled to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots and, frankly, it was a rough watch. A 16-3 loss in the freezing cold. That means the equipment managers have already packed up the pads, and the players are likely heading out for their exit interviews or hitting a beach far away from the gridiron.
Why the season ended early
Honestly, the way the season finished left a lot of people in Los Angeles (and the remaining die-hards in San Diego) feeling pretty salty. Under Jim Harbaugh, the team actually put together a solid 11-6 regular season. They looked like a real contender for a minute there. They even beat the Chiefs in mid-December!
But the wheels fell off at the worst possible time.
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That Wild Card game against the Patriots was a disaster. The offense, which had been humming at points during the year, managed only a single field goal. One. When you have a generational talent at quarterback like Herbert, scoring three points in a playoff game is basically a crime.
As a result, the front office didn't wait long to start swinging the axe. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman was fired on Tuesday. The team is already looking for a new play-caller who can actually maximize Herbert's arm instead of just running the ball into a wall of defenders.
When will they play again?
If you're wondering when the next time you can see a game is, you’re looking at a long wait. We are officially in the "dark period" of the NFL calendar for the Chargers.
- The NFL Draft: This is the next "big" event. It usually happens in late April. Since the Chargers made the playoffs but lost early, they’ll have a middle-of-the-pack pick.
- Schedule Release: We won't know the exact dates and times for the 2026 season until May.
- Training Camp: Usually kicks off in late July at "The Bolt" in El Segundo.
- Preseason: Expect the first live action in August 2026.
Basically, you have about seven months to find a new hobby or start obsessively scouting college wide receivers.
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The 2026 Opponents: A sneak peek
Even though the schedule isn't out, we already know who they are playing next season thanks to the NFL’s rotating formula. It’s going to be a gauntlet.
They’ve got the usual suspects in the AFC West: two games each against the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders. But beyond that, they’re matched up against the AFC East and the NFC West. That means games against the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Buffalo Bills are on the horizon.
The home slate at SoFi Stadium for 2026 looks like this:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans
What to watch for this offseason
The big story isn't about today’s game—it’s about who will still be on the team by March. The Chargers are heading into a massive free-agency crunch. Big names like Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen, and Najee Harris are all seeing their contracts expire.
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General Manager Joe Hortiz has some impossible choices to make. Do you keep the veteran leadership of Mack and Allen, or do you let them walk to save cap space for a younger roster? It’s the classic NFL dilemma.
If you are a fan who still calls them the "San Diego Chargers," maybe this offseason is the time to finally buy a "Los Angeles" hoodie. Or don't. Plenty of folks in SoCal still refuse to acknowledge the move, and hey, that's your right. But for now, the only thing the team is playing today is a round of golf.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the coaching search for the new offensive coordinator. That hire will tell us everything we need to know about how they plan to fix the mess we saw in New England last week.
Next steps for fans: Check the official NFL playoff bracket for today’s Divisional Round games to see who is still in the hunt, or head over to the Chargers' official site to see the full list of 27 players entering free agency this spring.