Chargers are expected tap former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to ignite their offense. Expect explosive creativity and a potent partnership with Justin Herbert.
The Los Angeles Chargers have made their first big splash of the offseason. According to multiple reports, the Chargers are expected to hire Mike McDaniel as their next offensive coordinator. It’s not official yet, but the way it’s being framed is pretty straightforward. The Chargers are viewed as the landing spot, assuming McDaniel doesn’t change course late in the process.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach was one of the biggest names on the market, and is a significant get for Los Angeles.
If this ends up getting finalized, it would be one of the most fascinating coaching moves of the entire cycle, mostly because of what it could mean for Justin Herbert. The Chargers have been trying to find the right balance between protecting Herbert, maximizing his arm talent and putting the offense in more consistently favorable situations. McDaniel’s calling card has been creativity, spacing and using motion to force defenses to declare what they’re doing before the snap. Even if the results in Miami were up and down depending on injuries and protection, the identity on offense was always obvious. That’s something the Chargers have been chasing.
There’s also the simple reality of the division. You’re dealing with elite quarterbacks, aggressive coaches and teams that can score in bunches. The Chargers needs to be able to win shootouts when they have to, but also stay efficient week to week instead of relying on Herbert to bail it out on third-and-forever.
This isn’t a done deal, so it’s worth repeating: there’s no formal announcement yet. But the fact that this has gained traction across multiple outlets tells you the league is treating it like a real possibility, not just a random rumor.
If McDaniel does land in Los Angeles, it’s a big swing, and it’s the kind of hire that could reshape what the Chargers look like offensively in a hurry.