The NFL crowned a new champion on Sunday as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. As we turn the page to the 2026 offseason, we will patiently wait for the regular season schedule reveal, which typically occurs in May.
Although that is still three months away, we do know each team’s 2026 opponents. The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face a tough slate, including matchups against both Super Bowl teams. However, with that comes the opportunity to make a statement, particularly in their game against the Seahawks.
Los Angeles Chargers could face the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL season opener
GettyLA Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still
As has been the case for many years, the reigning Super Bowl champion will host the season opener in their stadium on a Thursday night. The Chargers are one of seven possible teams that could face the Seahawks in that game. Here are the other six:
- Arizona Cardinals
- New England Patriots
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
- Kansas City Chiefs
Seattle also has home matchups against the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, but those two teams are set to play in Melbourne, Australia in Week 1. That gives the Chargers a better chance of playing in the season opener, and the odds of them doing so might be better than you think.
Chargers have a legitimate shot at being the Seahawks’ season opener opponent
GettyLA Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh
The NFL could opt for a Super Bowl rematch to kickoff the 2026 season, but considering it wasn’t a very competitive game, that could be a tough sell. Another name that jumps off the page is the Chiefs, who have been the most dominant team in the league over the past decade. However, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes may not be recovered in time from his torn ACL injury to play Week 1.
That makes scheduling Kansas City as Seattle’s season opener opponent very risky. The Cowboys are always an option, but they played in the 2025 opener and have not been a playoff team in two years. The Cardinals and Giants likely each have slim odds as they are in rebuilding mode with new coaching regimes.
That leaves us with either the Chargers or Bears, and either would be solid choices. They each went 11-6 and made the playoffs this past season, and have top tier quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Caleb Williams. However, Los Angeles has a couple of unique things in its favor.
The first is the father-son connection between Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh. Given how well Seattle’s special teams unit played in 2025, and his last name, Jay’s is beginning to gain some traction in future head coaching conversations.
Secondly, the Chargers and Seahawks play just once every four years due to them being in different conferences. There will be plenty of primetime opportunities for Seattle and Chicago, so the NFL may go with the more unique matchup with Los Angeles. Who knows, perhaps a season opener between the Chargers and Seahawks will be a Super Bowl LXI preview.
Chargers Could Get Opportunity to Make Huge Early-Season Statement in 2026