Mike McDaniel is back in the lab, and this time, he’s bringing his offensive mind to Los Angeles. After four rollercoaster seasons as the head coach in Miami, McDaniel is resetting as the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator - and he’s doing it with a clear vision, a chip on his shoulder, and a quarterback who just might be the key to unlocking it all.
Speaking from the Chargers’ facility, McDaniel didn’t shy away from the challenges that marked his final stretch in Miami. Injuries - particularly to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa - played a big role in the Dolphins’ offensive inconsistency over the past two seasons.
“Football is a humbling game,” McDaniel said. “Regardless of how good you are as a coach, we really dealt with some injury issues with Tua... and it really pulled into focus how important the quarterback is to your overall effectiveness as a coach and a team.”
That’s not an excuse - it’s perspective. McDaniel knows the highs and lows of being a head coach, and he’s bringing those lessons with him to a new role, under a new boss in Jim Harbaugh, and with a new quarterback in Justin Herbert.
Let’s talk about that pairing. Herbert, still just scratching the surface of his potential, is the kind of talent that offensive minds dream about.
“He can make every throw,” McDaniel said. “As a competitor, you can tell he enjoys the NFL and being a franchise quarterback.
He enjoys all the burden, the responsibility of touching the ball on every play.”
That’s music to the ears of a coordinator who thrives on creativity and adaptability. McDaniel emphasized that the best offenses are tailored to the players they have - and with Herbert at the helm, the Chargers have a lot to work with.
“With the skill set such as Justin’s, you can do a lot of things on the ground and in the air. Really put defenses in a bind,” McDaniel said.
“You want to create a system of offense where guys can be their best in December and January.”
That’s not just coach-speak - it’s playoff talk. And McDaniel knows the sting of falling short.
He recalled a conversation with Herbert following the Chargers’ first-round playoff exit, and the hunger was palpable. “You lose in the playoffs in the first round, you feel like you have an empty stomach,” McDaniel said.
“That hunger - I could hear it in his voice. He was excited to start a new chapter.”
Herbert’s fire, combined with a young group of skill players, gives McDaniel a fresh canvas. And while he’s stepping into an assistant role, there’s no question he still has head-coaching aspirations. “Absolutely, my end goal of being able to bring championships to an organization as a head coach, that still is in place,” he said.
But for now, he’s focused on the work in front of him - building an offense that can evolve, compete, and peak when it matters most. He called the opportunity to coach under Harbaugh “too good to pass up,” and made it clear this is about growth - both for himself and the team.
“You can’t prepare for all the things that come at you,” McDaniel said, reflecting on his time in Miami. “You’re still standing here.
It didn’t kill you. All the tough things you have been through end up working in your favor as you move forward as a coach and a man.”
He’s not wrong. McDaniel’s 35-33 record in Miami may not leap off the page, but context matters.
The flashes of offensive brilliance, the player development, the culture-building - they all laid a foundation. And now, he’s bringing that experience to a Chargers team looking to take the next step.
He even referenced last October’s game between the Dolphins and Chargers - a 29-27 loss where Herbert pulled off a late-game escape and found Ladd McConkey for a 42-yard play that set up the game-winning field goal. “Fortunate to share the field with guys who can take over and put the team on his back,” McDaniel said. “That was the latest, greatest example of that on the short end of the stick.”
Now, he gets to coach that guy.
McDaniel’s journey is far from over. This stop in Los Angeles is a pivot point - a chance to recalibrate, retool, and reassert himself as one of the most innovative minds in the game. And if things go according to plan, it won’t be long before he’s back in the big chair, leading a team of his own once again.