The Los Angeles Chargers appear to be closing in on a major addition to their coaching staff - former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is expected to become their next offensive coordinator. But while the move seems all but inevitable, it hasn’t been made official just yet. And that delay is raising a few eyebrows around the league.
Here’s what we know: McDaniel has been in demand this offseason. Even after his reported agreement with the Chargers, teams with head-coaching vacancies have continued to show interest.
Most recently, the Buffalo Bills reached out to set up an interview. But McDaniel canceled, backing out before any formal sit-down could take place.
According to reports, there may have been some hesitation on McDaniel’s part about pursuing another head-coaching opportunity so soon after aligning himself with the Chargers. That’s understandable.
In a league where loyalty and optics matter - especially among front offices - jumping from one opportunity to another without committing could raise questions. And McDaniel, known for his sharp offensive mind and forward-thinking approach, likely understands the value of stability in his next move.
This isn’t the first time he’s backed out of an interview during this cycle. Before the Chargers' job came into focus, McDaniel also withdrew from consideration for the Cleveland Browns’ head-coaching vacancy. That trend suggests he may be narrowing his focus - and perhaps signaling that he’s ready to settle into a role that plays to his strengths as a play-caller and offensive architect.
For the Chargers, this is shaping up to be a win. Not only does it look like they’ve landed one of the most creative offensive minds in the league, but they’ve also seemingly dodged the risk of losing him to a late head-coaching hire elsewhere.
The only team still loosely in the mix is the Las Vegas Raiders, who did interview McDaniel once. But there’s been no buzz about a second meeting, and no signs that things are moving forward on that front.
So with McDaniel’s head-coaching candidacy cooling off and his path to Los Angeles seemingly clear, the biggest question now is: what’s the holdup? Why haven’t the Chargers made it official?
There could be a number of behind-the-scenes reasons - contract details, staffing logistics, or simply waiting for the right time to make a splashy announcement. But from the outside, it looks like the Chargers are on the verge of locking in one of the most intriguing hires of the offseason.
If and when it becomes official, this move has the potential to reshape the Chargers’ offense in a big way. McDaniel’s track record with quarterback development and creative scheming could be exactly what this team needs to take the next step. Stay tuned - this story isn’t quite finished, but it’s definitely trending in a direction that should excite Chargers fans.