The Chargers are heading into 2026 with a new offensive setup, and the early buzz is centered on one thing: how Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert fit together.
McDaniel comes in with the kind of reputation that naturally raises expectations. His offenses have long been viewed as creative and quarterback-friendly, and now he gets to shape one around Herbert, one of the league’s most gifted passers. But he isn’t trying to tackle the transition alone.
Shane Day has become a key piece of that process.
McDaniel said Day’s history with Herbert has already made a major difference as the Chargers work through the early stages of the install.
“Being able to really lean on Shane has been monumental for me,” McDaniel said.
That relationship matters because Day already knows how Herbert learns, how he communicates and how he functions on the field. Instead of building that understanding from zero, McDaniel has been able to move faster and use Day as a bridge while the new system takes shape.
“Realistically, relying on that relationship as we all are… But it’s been awesome,” McDaniel said.
Day is back with the Chargers for a second stint and enters 2026 as both quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. McDaniel pointed to how smoothly Day was able to get the concepts across to Herbert, noting the speed of the teaching process.
“The accelerated teaching… he knew exactly how everything was framed,” McDaniel said.
For all the newness around the offense, Herbert remains the constant. His ability has never been the question. The focus now is on unlocking more of it inside McDaniel’s system.
Ladd McConkey thinks that part is coming.
“That guy’s a stud,” McConkey said of Herbert. “He’s one of the best in the league to do it and he’s going to show everyone that.”
McConkey’s belief lines up with what he has already said about the importance of timing with Herbert in this offense. McDaniel’s scheme is built on quick decisions and getting the ball to playmakers fast, which makes that quarterback-receiver connection especially important.
That timing could end up being one of the defining elements of the Chargers’ offense.
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