The Los Angeles Chargers are on the verge of a significant offensive hire, and multiple NFL insiders framed it as a near-finished deal Tuesday night.
Adam Schefter reported that former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is “expected to become the Chargers’ offensive coordinator barring a change of heart.”
He noted that McDaniel has already informed other teams he is out of their head coaching searches.
Ian Rapoport added that the move would give Justin Herbert a “new OC” and called Los Angeles “a great spot” for McDaniel, both professionally and personally.
The move would reunite McDaniel with a top-tier quarterback.
He would go from working with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Tua Tagovailoa, to the No. 6 pick from that same class, Justin Herbert.
According to Jeff Darlington, both the Buccaneers and Eagles aggressively pursued McDaniel as their top offensive coordinator target as well.
But the opportunity to return to California and coach Justin Herbert was too strong to pass up.
Why the McDaniel Fit Makes Sense for Herbert
Regardless of how the end of his Miami tenure played out, Mike McDaniel remains widely regarded as one of the sharpest offensive minds in football.
His Dolphins offenses were among the most explosive in the NFL at their peak.
They are highlighted by a dominant 2023 season in which Miami ranked first in total and passing offense.
That was the season they famously scored 70 points against the Broncos.
His scheme elevated both the passing game and rushing efficiency.
Stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane flourished in his offense.
That pedigree matters for a Chargers team coming off a disappointing playoff loss in which the offense managed just three points.
Herbert is entering a make-or-break stage of his career.
Pairing him with an offensive coordinator of McDaniel’s caliber could be transformative.
McDaniel’s system emphasizes pre-snap motion, spacing, and quarterback-friendly reads.
These are areas where Herbert’s arm talent and processing ability can shine.
For a Chargers offense that has too often struggled in critical moments, this OC upgrade is massive.
LA offers one of the most attractive coordinator jobs in the league.
While head coaching opportunities remain enticing, the chance to maximize Herbert’s prime under Jim Harbaugh presents a unique opportunity for McDaniel.
Chargers O-Line to be Fully Healthy in 2026
All signs point to this becoming official, and the timing could not be better.
After fielding one of the league’s worst offensive lines in 2025, the Chargers expect major reinforcements next season.
Getting Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back healthy changes the complexion of the entire offense.
In 2025, without Alt and Slater for most of the year, LA’s OL unit allowed the most pressures in the NFL and ranked last in pass block win rate.
With a healthier line, a quarterback in his prime, and skill-position talent spread across the roster, the Chargers are primed for a major leap on offense.
If McDaniel is indeed the one guiding it, LA could be one of the highest-powered offenses in the entire NFL in 2026.
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