Mike McDaniel’s coaching future is still hanging in the balance, and the latest developments suggest he’s keeping his options open-particularly when it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Despite being widely expected to join the Los Angeles Chargers as their next offensive coordinator, McDaniel hasn’t officially taken himself out of the running for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy. That’s notable, especially considering he’s already withdrawn from other head coaching searches around the league, including recent interest from the Browns and Bills.
So, what’s going on in Las Vegas? The Raiders have been casting a wide net in their search, and McDaniel remains one of the finalists. Here’s a quick snapshot of where things stand with their head coaching candidates:
Finalists:
- Mike McDaniel (most recently with the Dolphins, reportedly eyeing the Chargers OC job)
- Ejiro Evero (Panthers defensive coordinator)
- Jesse Minter (Chargers defensive coordinator, previously with the Ravens)
- Jeff Hafley (Packers defensive coordinator, formerly with the Dolphins)
- Davis Webb (Broncos quarterbacks coach, scheduled to interview)
Other Candidates:
- Vance Joseph (Broncos defensive coordinator, interviewed)
- Klint Kubiak (Seahawks offensive coordinator, has withdrawn)
- Matt Nagy (Chiefs offensive coordinator, interviewed)
- Nate Scheelhaase (Rams pass game coordinator, scheduled to interview)
- Mike LaFleur (Rams offensive coordinator, requested)
- Chris Shula (Rams defensive coordinator, requested)
- Brian Flores (Vikings defensive coordinator)
- Brian Daboll (former Giants head coach, interviewed)
McDaniel’s decision to pull out of other searches but not from the Raiders’ process raises some eyebrows. It could mean he’s still in play for the Vegas job-or it could be a strategic move as he weighs the potential of stepping into a high-profile offensive coordinator role with the Chargers. That kind of gig, especially with a talented quarterback in place, could be the perfect reset button before jumping back into the head coaching market next season.
At 42, McDaniel already has a deep coaching résumé. He broke into the NFL back in 2005 as a Broncos intern and spent over a decade working his way through the ranks with stops in Houston, Washington, Cleveland, and Atlanta. His big break came in San Francisco, where he helped engineer one of the league’s most creative run games as the 49ers’ run game coordinator (2017-2020) before becoming their offensive coordinator in 2021.
That success landed him the Dolphins’ head coaching job in 2022. Over four seasons in Miami, McDaniel posted a 35-33 record and led the team to two playoff appearances. While his tenure ended after the 2025 season, he left behind a resume that shows he can build and lead a competitive team.
Whether McDaniel ends up in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or somewhere else entirely, one thing’s clear-he’s still very much a name to watch. And for the Raiders, a team looking to reset and reestablish its identity, the door may not be completely closed on a coach with proven offensive chops and a forward-thinking approach.
We’ll keep tracking this one as it unfolds.