The Los Angeles Chargers made it official on Monday: Mike McDaniel is their new offensive coordinator.
The move had been in the works for nearly a week, with reports surfacing that McDaniel was expected to join Jim Harbaugh’s staff. But with McDaniel still in the mix for several head coaching jobs, including interviews with the Browns, Bills, and Raiders, nothing was set in stone-until now.
McDaniel, 42, ultimately pulled his name from consideration in Cleveland and Buffalo, signaling he was ready to take on a different kind of challenge. And now, he’s headed back to California, stepping into a pivotal role as the architect of the Chargers’ offense-what head coach Jim Harbaugh reportedly described as the “head coach of the offense.”
It’s a fascinating move for both sides. For McDaniel, it’s a reset.
After two roller-coaster seasons in Miami, he’s trading the head coach’s headset for a coordinator’s play sheet-but don’t mistake that for a step back. This is about fit, opportunity, and maybe even a little unfinished business when it comes to building a top-tier offense.
Let’s not forget what McDaniel brings to the table. When he took over the Dolphins in 2022, his offensive system made an immediate impact.
That year, Miami finished sixth in total yards. In 2023, they took it a step further-first in total offense, with Tua Tagovailoa leading the league in passing yards (4,624) and earning a Pro Bowl nod.
At that point, McDaniel looked like one of the brightest offensive minds in the league, and the Dolphins seemed poised to become perennial contenders.
But the momentum didn’t last. Injuries piled up, and the team’s performance dipped.
The Dolphins went 8-9 in 2024 and followed that with a 7-10 campaign this past season. McDaniel’s playoff record in Miami ended at 0-2.
Still, the offensive vision and creativity that made him a hot commodity haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, both the Buccaneers and Eagles were reportedly eyeing him for their OC openings before the Chargers sealed the deal.
Now, he joins forces with Harbaugh, who’s just returned to the NFL after his successful run at Michigan. It’s a pairing that makes a lot of sense.
Harbaugh wants someone who can take full ownership of the offense, and McDaniel thrives when he has the keys to the system. His ability to craft game plans around his quarterback’s strengths is well documented-and that’s where Justin Herbert comes in.
Herbert is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the league, but the Chargers haven’t quite unlocked his full potential. That’s where McDaniel’s influence could be transformative. With his track record of maximizing speed, spacing, and quarterback efficiency, this hire signals a clear intent: the Chargers are ready to build an offense that can finally match Herbert’s talent.
And for McDaniel, there’s a clear draw in coming back to California, where his coaching journey began. It’s a fresh start, but also a high-stakes opportunity. If he can elevate Herbert and help turn the Chargers into a legitimate offensive powerhouse, his name will be right back in the head coaching conversation-maybe sooner than later.
For now, though, the Chargers have their guy. And if McDaniel’s past work is any indication, the AFC West just got a little more interesting.