The Los Angeles Chargers entered the offseason with a focus on bolstering their offensive line, adding Mekhi Becton and Andre James to improve the interior. While the prevailing expectation was that James would take over the starting center position from Bradley Bozeman, head coach Jim Harbaugh’s recent comments have cast doubt on that assumption.
During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Harbaugh outlined his projected starting offensive line for the upcoming season. Notably, Andre James’ name was absent from the list.
Jim Harbaugh Names Bradley Bozeman Captain For Los Angeles Chargers
“Our two tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, Bradley Bozeman—our captain, our center,” Harbaugh said. “Zion [Johnson] is back, Mekhi Becton has been at it. Trey Pipkins, that line is really starting to come together … it’s going to be exciting to work with. We hit the field on Monday and I just feel like we are in a better place.”
Harbaugh’s emphasis on Bozeman as the team’s “captain” and “center” strongly suggests that the Chargers intend to have him continue in that role in 2025.
This revelation has been met with concern from Chargers fans. Bozeman’s performance in recent years, including a 61.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season, has been underwhelming. While James’ 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders may not have been stellar, Chargers fans were likely hoping for a change at the center position, particularly after the team’s acquisition of James.
Harbaugh’s apparent decision to stick with Bozeman as the starter has been described as a “pretty big bucket of ice water,” indicating a potentially disappointing development for those hoping to see a different direction for the Chargers’ offensive line.