Chargers secure offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and re-sign defensive lineman Teair Tart, boosting their staff and defensive front.
We have a two-for of good news for the Los Angeles Chargers this morning. Let us bask in the glow:
Mike McDaniel
It was just days ago when Chargers fans started to worry that those reports of the team hiring Mike McDaniel may have been premature, as he still seemed to have at least one head coach interview on his schedule and the team hadn't officially announced the hire of their new offensive coordinator.
Since then, he cancelled his interview with the Buffalo Bills. He also, earlier today, showed up on the Chargers social media channels wearing the funniest pair of glasses imaginable and announced himself to the world as the offensive coordinator of the Chargers, making it official:
Here's the official official one, in case you wanted some toned down eyewear:
There we go!
The Chargers now officially have one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL. Now it's the job of Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh to fill that side of the ball with studs, especially along the offensive line.
However, in the time it took to hire McDaniel, the team lost former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Baltimore Ravens, where he will take over the head coaching reigns from recently-fired John Harbaugh (who is now the head coach of the New York Giants, if I've kept my coaching carousel correctly in order). Their top priority right now should probably be to find and hire his replacement.
That task maybe got a little easier today with the other bit of good news....
Teair Tart
The big man inside, Teair Tart, was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Instead, he'll be staying home in Los Angeles.
Tart will turn 29 years old this offseason, which puts a 3-year deal squarely in his prime.
While he may not be a superstar-level player, Tart's consistently in the middle of the defensive line (especially against the run) does free up the players around him to get to the QB. He was also very effective this season in putting his hands up to get in the way of a thrown pass instead of trying to get to the QB, leading to 4 pass deflections this season (and another against the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs).
2025 was the first time Tart had started with the Chargers and he ended up starting all 18 of their games. While his numbers don't fly off the page, the defense (with whichever coordinator they hire) would've had to scramble to replace him impact had he not re-signed.