Mike McDaniel. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Landing Mike McDaniel as OC would be massive win for Chargers

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 10:13 PM ET

After backing out of the head-coaching search for the Cleveland Browns, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel may have found his next role. It also might be a role that he is best-suited for.

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers seem set to hire McDaniel to be their new offensive coordinator.

Mike McDaniel is huge get for Chargers offense

While McDaniel's run as head coach of the Dolphins produced consistently mediocre results, he remains one of the most creative and innovative offensive minds in the league. Getting him back into a situation where he can focus entirely on that side of the ball and be in a more specialized role might be the path that is best for him right now.

Professional sports are loaded with people who have been great in specialized roles, but perhaps not cut out for being the top person in the organization running the whole show.

In other words, some people are Batman, and some people are Robin. There is nothing wrong with playing the role of Robin in the NFL, especially if you are good at it.

This might be the best possible landing spot for McDaniel in that type of role.

Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel is expected to become the Chargers offensive coordinator barring a change of heart, per @JeffDarlington and me. McDaniel has informed other teams that they’re out, the Chargers clearly want him, and the two sides are having dinner tonight. But the… pic.twitter.com/N7onkCadlK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 21, 2026

By going to the Chargers, he will get to work with one of the best pure talents at quarterback in the NFL in Justin Herbert, and it might be the type of union that everybody involved can benefit from.

The Chargers offense, even with Herbert, had grown stale in recent years, with a revolving door of offensive coordinators coming and going through the coaching staff. Herbert is also in need of a big breakthrough season — and especially in the playoffs — to validate all of the hype that has surrounded him throughout his career.

McDaniel, for all of his play-design and play-calling, did not have the quarterback in Miami to fully maximize what his system could do. Tua Tagovailoa had his moments, but injuries and a lack of elite arm strength always limited things a little. Now he gets to work with a quarterback in Herbert who has been extremely durable and has some of the best pure talent and skills of any quarterback in the league.

It could be a near-perfect situation for everybody involved. It also means everybody involved might be running out of excuses. Herbert has a highly regarded offensive mind and play-designer running the show. McDaniel has the pure talent to work with at quarterback. Harbaugh and the Chargers organization landed one of the best offensive coordinator hires of the offseason. Big things should be expected.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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