Mike McDaniel’s Next Move Looks AFC West-Bound - And Chiefs Fans Should Take Notice
When the Miami Dolphins made the surprising decision to move on from Mike McDaniel, it didn’t take long for the NFL rumor mill to hit overdrive. One of the league’s most creative offensive minds suddenly became a free agent, and naturally, several teams came calling. Now, as the coaching carousel spins deeper into January, all signs are pointing toward McDaniel landing in the AFC West - and that’s something Kansas City Chiefs fans might want to keep a close eye on.
Initially, there was some buzz around McDaniel potentially landing the Buffalo Bills head coaching job. But according to reporting from Dianna Russini, that door never really opened - the two sides didn’t even meet. So scratch Buffalo off the list.
Instead, McDaniel’s path seems to be narrowing toward the Las Vegas Raiders, where he’s still very much in the mix for their head coaching vacancy. And if that doesn’t pan out?
He’s reportedly got a strong Plan B: taking over as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. That fallback option is no small consolation prize - it would keep him in the division, working with a top-tier quarterback in Justin Herbert, and still very much in the thick of AFC West battles.
So no matter how this shakes out, Mike McDaniel is likely staying in the same neighborhood - and that means the Chiefs will be seeing a lot more of him.
The Raiders, for their part, have cast a wide net in their coaching search. Their official site has listed 14 candidates for the job, though some of those names are already off the board.
Kevin Stefanski has taken the reins in Atlanta. Jeff Hafley is now McDaniel’s successor in Miami.
Jesse Minter is heading to Baltimore.
That still leaves a healthy pool of contenders, and with some top coaching talent still active in the postseason, the Raiders may be content to wait out the conference championship round - or even longer - before making a final decision. Timing could be everything here.
One name worth watching in the Raiders’ search: Matt Nagy. The former Bears head coach and recently the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, Nagy is reportedly interested in the Vegas job as well. He’s also in the mix for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy after the team parted ways with Jonathan Gannon earlier this offseason.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have already made a move of their own, bringing Eric Bieniemy back into the fold as offensive coordinator after his three-year stint away from Kansas City. That leaves Nagy free to pursue other opportunities - and potentially face off against his former team twice a year if he ends up in silver and black.
As for McDaniel, if the Raiders pass, landing with the Chargers would still keep him in the AFC West and give him a chance to bounce back quickly. Working with Herbert in L.A.’s high-powered offense could be the perfect setup for a coach looking to reestablish his reputation after a rocky end in Miami.
So while McDaniel’s next title - head coach or coordinator - is still up in the air, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: he’s not leaving the AFC West. And for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of the Chiefs, that means another sharp offensive mind is about to set up shop just down the road.