Mike McDaniel is back in the building - and this time, it’s in Los Angeles. After his abrupt exit from Miami following a disappointing 2025 campaign, McDaniel now takes the reins of a Chargers team that’s been long on talent and short on identity.
But before things unraveled in South Florida, McDaniel was the mastermind behind one of the NFL’s most innovative and explosive offenses. And now, with Justin Herbert at quarterback and a young, dynamic receiver in Ladd McConkey, McDaniel has a fresh canvas to work with.
Let’s not forget what McDaniel accomplished in Miami. From 2022 to 2024, when Tua Tagovailoa was healthy and upright, the Dolphins were near the top of the league in efficiency - top-five in EPA per play and top-eight in offensive success rate.
That offense was built on speed and precision, with McDaniel pulling the strings. He helped turn Tua, a quarterback many didn’t view as elite, into one of the most efficient passers in the league.
Over that three-year span, Tua ranked third in adjusted EPA per dropback, fourth in passing yards per game, and trailed only Brock Purdy in yards per attempt. That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident.
Of course, the Dolphins never made a deep playoff run, and when things fell apart in 2025, McDaniel was shown the door. But his offensive vision - the motion-heavy, timing-based, spacing-conscious system - left a mark. And now, he brings that vision to a Chargers team that desperately needs it.
A New Chapter for Herbert
When McDaniel stepped to the podium for his Chargers introductory press conference, he didn’t waste time setting the tone. He said Justin Herbert hadn’t come close to reaching his ceiling. That wasn’t just coach-speak - it was a direct shot at the previous regime, and specifically Greg Roman’s offense, which struggled to find rhythm or identity.
Roman’s two-year stint calling plays in LA was marked by inconsistency. He talked about establishing the run, but his play-calling often veered in the opposite direction - or worse, turtled into conservatism at the worst possible times. The offense lacked cohesion, and Herbert, one of the league’s most talented arms, was left to make magic out of broken structure.
That’s where McDaniel’s system stands in stark contrast. Yes, his Miami offenses leaned run-heavy in terms of pass rate over expected, but they were anything but conservative.
The Dolphins used pre-snap motion on roughly 70% of plays - a significant jump from the Chargers’ 50% under Roman. They leaned into play-action, misdirection, and route concepts designed to stress defenses horizontally and vertically.
In short, McDaniel’s offense was built to keep defenders guessing.
The McConkey Factor
One of the most intriguing pieces in McDaniel’s new offense? Ladd McConkey.
The quick, elusive wideout was underutilized in Roman’s scheme - particularly on crossing routes, where his skill set should shine. Despite film analysts and data-driven voices calling for more crossers, McConkey was rarely given the opportunity.
In 2024, he ran just 34 crossing routes, catching all nine of his targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns. In 2025, that number dropped to 25, and he caught six of 11 targets for 71 yards and a score.
That’s not a usage issue - that’s a missed opportunity.
Look back at what McDaniel did with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Miami. The Dolphins led the league in targets, receptions, and yards on crossing routes in 2023.
Hill alone was targeted on a league-high 17 crossers that year. Even as Miami’s offense regressed in 2025, they still ranked third in catches on crossing patterns.
That’s not just a trend - it’s a staple of McDaniel’s system.
Expect McConkey to be a major beneficiary of that approach. He was top-ten in yards per route run in 2024, and he has the kind of short-area quickness and route discipline that fits perfectly into McDaniel’s timing-based passing game. If McDaniel unleashes McConkey on crossers the way he did with Hill and Waddle, the Chargers’ passing game could take a big leap.
Is Herbert Built for This?
Here’s the good news for Chargers fans: Justin Herbert is more than capable of executing McDaniel’s route concepts - especially the crossers and posts that are central to the system.
In 2025, Herbert ranked second among 34 qualifying quarterbacks in accuracy on crossing and post routes. He completed those throws at a rate 17% above expected - an elite number.
What’s more, only 58% of those throws were first-read attempts, meaning Herbert was often making those plays by going through his progressions and finding the right guy. That’s the kind of processing and precision that McDaniel’s offense thrives on.
Herbert also averaged 10.7 adjusted yards per attempt on those throws, ranking 11th in the league. That’s not just efficient - that’s explosive. And it’s a strong indication that McDaniel’s system, with its emphasis on timing, spacing, and deception, is tailor-made for Herbert’s skill set.
The Run Game Question: Omarion Hampton
While the passing game looks like a clean fit, the run game is a bit murkier - especially when it comes to Omarion Hampton.
Hampton’s rookie season was a tough one - injuries and inconsistency held him back. And stylistically, he’s not a natural fit for the zone-heavy rushing scheme McDaniel ran in Miami.
The Dolphins used zone runs on about half their rushing attempts in 2025 and ranked third in yards before contact on those plays. The Chargers, by contrast, ran zone just 38% of the time and ranked near the bottom of the league in success rate and yards before contact.
Hampton, for his part, struggled on zone runs. He posted just a 39% success rate on 54 zone attempts - ranking 69th out of 82 backs - and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry. That’s not the kind of production that inspires confidence in a zone-based system.
So, what happens now?
McDaniel could adapt his scheme to better suit Hampton’s strengths - possibly incorporating more gap and power concepts. Or, he might stick to his zone principles and look to other backs who are a better fit.
One name to keep an eye on: Kimani Vidal, who was one of the most efficient zone runners in 2025. It’s a storyline worth watching as training camp approaches.
What’s Next
McDaniel’s arrival in Los Angeles marks a fresh start for a Chargers team that’s been stuck in neutral. With Herbert at quarterback, McConkey poised for a breakout, and a scheme that’s proven to elevate offensive production, the pieces are in place for a turnaround.
It won’t happen overnight - especially if the run game doesn’t find its footing - but the foundation is there. McDaniel brings with him a clear vision, a proven track record, and a system that fits the modern NFL. If he can unlock Herbert’s full potential and get the most out of his playmakers, the Chargers could be one of the league’s most exciting offenses in 2026.