The Los Angeles Chargers have officially handed the offensive keys to Mike McDaniel - and he’s already got his eyes set on unlocking the full potential of Justin Herbert.
McDaniel, introduced Tuesday as the team’s new offensive coordinator, didn’t hold back when talking about his new quarterback. “He hasn’t neared the ceiling to what he’s capable of,” McDaniel said.
“There’s a lot we can be capable of with him leading the charge.” That’s not just coach-speak - that’s a clear signal that McDaniel sees something special in Herbert, and he’s ready to build an offense around it.
Herbert, now heading into his seventh NFL season, has consistently put up big numbers and highlight-reel throws. But the postseason success?
Still elusive. The 27-year-old is 0-3 in playoff games, and the Chargers’ most recent exit - a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round - led to the departure of former OC Greg Roman after two seasons.
Enter McDaniel. Known for his creative offensive mind and quarterback-friendly schemes, he’s coming off a four-year stint as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
His time in South Florida had its highs - playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023 - and lows, with back-to-back postseason misses ultimately leading to his exit in 2025. But make no mistake: McDaniel’s offensive résumé still carries weight.
In Miami, he helped Tua Tagovailoa reach new heights. Under McDaniel, Tagovailoa threw for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns in just 13 games in 2022, then followed that up by leading the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, along with 29 touchdowns. Injuries and inconsistency derailed the Dolphins the past two years, but McDaniel’s ability to elevate a quarterback’s play is well documented.
Now, he gets a chance to do the same with Herbert - though he’s quick to point out that it won’t be about asking the QB to do everything.
“I think not relying too heavily on Justin’s ability to do above and beyond is critical,” McDaniel said. “That will be one of the first things that we’ll try to do - take a little off his plate so that he is free to do that when his greatness is required.”
That’s a notable shift in philosophy. Herbert has often been the engine - and sometimes the entire vehicle - for the Chargers’ offense. McDaniel’s vision seems to be about building a more balanced attack, one that allows Herbert to pick his spots rather than carry the load every down.
It’s also a vision that aligns with what head coach Jim Harbaugh laid out last week. Harbaugh said the Chargers were looking for a “head coach of the offense” - someone with the autonomy and expertise to run that side of the ball.
McDaniel fits the bill, and he’s embracing the opportunity to work under Harbaugh. “I’ll become a better coach because of it,” he said.
Several teams expressed interest in McDaniel after his departure from Miami. The Falcons, Ravens, and Raiders all interviewed him for their head coaching vacancies. He even reportedly pulled out of the Browns’ search shortly before finalizing his deal with the Chargers.
Now, he’s in L.A., tasked with retooling an offense that has the talent but hasn’t found the consistency to match. With Herbert’s arm, McDaniel’s scheme, and Harbaugh’s leadership, the Chargers are betting big on a fresh start - and hoping it finally leads to January wins.
For a franchise still chasing that elusive deep playoff run, this hire isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about building an identity. And with McDaniel calling the shots on offense, the Chargers might just be on their way to finding one.