National Football League: McConkey Not Trying ‘To Win Super Bowl Today,’ But WR Has Given Chargers Title Aspirations
Published Jul. 31, 2025 9:44 a.m. ET
Eric Williams, NFL Reporter
SAN DIEGO — Ladd McConkey doesn’t waste a moment on the football field. During a special teams period, the Los Angeles Chargers receiver carefully navigates the sideline, practicing over-the-shoulder catches. He then lies flat on his back on the well-manicured grass at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium while receivers coach Sanjay Lal throws passes to him, aimed at his facemask. McConkey makes smooth catches, confidently gathering each pass in. The details matter to the Georgia native, who had the most productive season by any rookie in Chargers’ history.
However, despite his impressive stats, McConkey feels he left some opportunities on the field family mart okada. “When I go back and watch games, I just want to eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year,” McConkey shared. “And we’ve been working on that throughout the offseason in OTAs and training camp. There’s so much more to gain, and we’re just going to continue to try and build on that. hawkplaycc”
McConkey set franchise records for rookies with 82 receptions and 1,149 receiving yards. His seven touchdown receptions ranked fourth in team history for a rookie. Most notably, he shone in the slot position, where he recorded the second-most receiving yards (801) in the NFL.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert praised McConkey’s dedication, declaring, “I think he’s the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence what is aklan known for. The way he understands the game of football and how he reads defenses is what makes him stand out.” He continued, “He has a great understanding of how defenders will try to play him, where the leverage is, and finding ways to exploit that. He has done an excellent job connecting with the quarterbacks, always being in the right spot.”
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh added, “He’s even better than he was last year. It sounds like hyperbole, but he’s truly uncoverable by just one defender right now.”
Herbert and McConkey are on their way to establishing themselves as the Chargers’ next dynamic passing duo. The last outstanding tandem in powder blue and gold consisted of Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, the latter of whom will soon be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rivers, who recently announced his retirement as a Charger, and Gates collectively set the record for the most touchdowns by a quarterback-tight end duo in league history with 89. Before them, Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner were formidable adversaries during the “Air Coryell” era and both are also Hall of Fame inductees.
At the beginning of the franchise’s history in San Diego, quarterback John Hadl, along with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth, helped the Chargers secure an AFL Championship in 1963. The Chargers can also draw inspiration from their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, who successfully paired Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp to win a Super Bowl in Los Angeles four seasons ago. The progression of Herbert and McConkey as an unstoppable pass-catching duo could finally propel the Chargers into legitimate Super Bowl contention.
The Chargers have not clinched the AFC West since 2009 and are among 12 NFL teams that have yet to win a Super Bowl. Herbert holds a 41-38 record as a starting quarterback in the regular season and has not yet secured a playoff victory in five NFL seasons. Additionally, he is coming off one of his worst performances as a pro, having thrown four interceptions in a disappointing playoff loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round.
“It takes two to tango,” said Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman regarding the duo. “As they spend more time together and build their chemistry, they can communicate more effectively, saying things like, ‘Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here, and I’ll place it on your inside shoulder.’ There were moments last season during the first four games where it wasn’t perfect at all, but Ladd learned from those experiences. He climbed that ladder, and you could see their chemistry grow.”
Harbaugh returned to his former stomping grounds at the University of San Diego, where he was the head coach for three seasons. Alongside that, the Chargers made their return to San Diego for the first time since relocating to Los Angeles in 2017. However, those narratives served more as a backdrop to the football itself, with Herbert’s developing partnership with McConkey taking the spotlight. It’s not just McConkey; Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz focused on easing Herbert’s burden by adding more playmakers. The Chargers drafted running back Omarion Hampton, a proven game-changer, in the first round and signed 1,000-yard rusher Najee Harris during free agency. The team also selected three pass catchers in the draft: Tre Harris in the second round, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith and tight end Oronde Gadsden II in the fifth round. Notably, Lambert-Smith and Gadsden have made impressive strides in training camp. Additionally, 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston appears ready to advance in his development, which could ease the impact of Mike Williams’ unexpected retirement pacquiao world titles.
Ultimately, for the Chargers to achieve significant and consistent success on offense this season, continuing to nurture the symbiotic relationship between Herbert and McConkey will be essential. “Since I got here last year, we’ve been building that,” McConkey stated. “The goal is to keep improving, and Coach Harbaugh has been emphasizing the importance of gradually developing something that will eventually take off. So, that’s what we’re doing. We’re not attempting to win the Super Bowl today, but this is just the beginning 49 jili.vip login.”
What are your thoughts on how Ladd McConkey and Justin Herbert can elevate the Chargers’ chances this season?
