Mike McDaniel’s run with the Chargers is under the microscope after only four games, and the numbers have done him no favors.
Los Angeles is 0-4, and the offense has sputtered from the jump. The Chargers put up 14 points in Week 1 against the Cardinals, 14 again in Week 2 against the Raiders, 16 in Week 3 against the Bills, and then finally cracked 20 in Week 4 with 23 against the Seahawks. That was the first time they got over that mark this season, and it still wasn’t enough to quiet the noise.
McDaniel joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff after the 2025 season, and the move came with plenty of buzz. A lot of people around the league expected him to land another head-coaching job, but instead the Chargers brought him in to run the offense. Just four games into the 2026 season, that optimism has already started to curdle.
This week, McDaniel was asked directly about his job security, with some around the league wondering whether his play-calling duties could be taken away, if not more. He tried to brush off the chatter, but the pressure was obvious.
#Chargers OC Mike McDaniel on his job security being a topic after 4 games:
“I would be foolish or I’d feel entitled if I didn’t expect there to be disappointment that comes with the territory of the job. ... I don’t expect to get praised through failure.”
Full answer: pic.twitter.com/AC8TLZaeUl
- Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 8, 2026
The tone of his media session sounded familiar to anyone who watched the Miami version of this story unfold. McDaniel came across as far more subdued than fans had grown used to, and the situation in Los Angeles is starting to echo the same problems Dolphins fans watched play out before his exit.
There are plenty of questions and not many answers. Is this a McDaniel-Adam Gase pairing issue, with Gase serving as the passing game coordinator?
Is it the play-calling? Is it execution?
Is it Justin Herbert? What’s clear is that the McDaniel-Herbert partnership has not lifted the offense, and it hasn’t helped the quarterback either.
For Miami, there’s at least a little validation in seeing how quickly things have gone sideways. McDaniel was popular in South Florida at first, but as the losses piled up, his style and demeanor wore thin with both players and fans.
His path in Los Angeles was supposed to lead him back toward another head-coaching opportunity someday. Right now, that looks a lot less certain. Unless things change fast, the Chargers could be looking at a midseason decision, and that reunion with the Dolphins in late December may not happen.
In Other News...
Josh Allen Concern Grows As Bills Face A Protection Problem
The Bills early-season issues up front have put Josh Allen back in the conversation, even if the quarterback insists there is nothing to the suggestion he is anything less than fully healthy. Joe Brady acknowledged the obvious concern: Allen has been pressured and hit often, a byproduct, he said, of both the way the offense has been called and Allen holding the ball too long. It has become the kind of familiar problem that can hang over a contender in a hurry if the protection does not settle down.
For Miami, the broader AFC East picture still matters, especially with the Dolphins trying to find their own footing. Malik Willis has been pushing the message that the excuses have to stop now that the season is underway, and that the team needs to own its mistakes and improve rather than lean on youth or a new system. After a better showing against the Raiders and a setback against the Vikings, the Dolphins are still searching for consistency, while the Bills are trying to keep their quarterback upright and their offense on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Could Finally Unleash Malik Willis Against A Vulnerable Bengals Defense
Malik Willis has been used sparingly as a runner this season, which has made his mobility more of a background note than a central part of Miamis attack. Still, the Dolphins have reason to revisit that element against Cincinnati, where the matchup offers a chance to stress a defense that has been vulnerable in the back end and put more on Willis beyond simple pocket work.
The Bengals personnel situation could make that even more appealing, with injuries and changes across both sides shaping how the game gets called. If Miami sees room to move Willis around and attack vertically, the Dolphins may finally have a spot where his legs and arm can work together instead of one fading behind the other. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Key Defender Back As Week 5 Roster Changes Begin
The Dolphins got a notable reinforcement back for their Week 5 matchup with the Bengals, activating defensive tackle Kenneth Grant off injured reserve after he was able to practice all week. Grant had been out with a toe injury, so his return gives Miami another piece inside as it continues sorting through its early-season roster situation, with cornerback Storm Duck still on Reserve/PUP.
Miami also made a series of supporting moves around the roster to get ready for Sunday. Quarterback Brady Cook was waived to create space, with Carlos Washington Jr. and Rodney McGraw elevated from the practice squad for the game, a sign the Dolphins are still juggling depth even as they welcome back one of their more important defensive bodies. [Read more 🡒]