Chargers Hire Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator.

The Los Angeles Chargers have officially named former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator. The announcement was made Monday, nearly a week after ESPN reporters Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington indicated McDaniel was expected to join the team in this role. Before accepting the position with the Chargers, McDaniel explored several head coaching opportunities. He withdrew from consideration with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills and interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders job.

The Chargers shared McDaniel’s hiring on social media, captioning a video, “Sup, Mike McDaniel, offensive coordinator for the Chargers.” Sources reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles also pursued McDaniel as a top offensive coordinator candidate. However, the opportunity to return to California, where he spent several years with the San Francisco 49ers, and the chance to work with quarterback Justin Herbert were decisive factors in his decision. Head coach Jim Harbaugh sought a new offensive coordinator after firing Greg Roman two days following the team’s 16-3 playoff loss to the New England Patriots in the wild-card round. Roman had been Harbaugh’s only offensive coordinator in the NFL, but his offense was inconsistent and struggled to generate touchdowns in the postseason. Harbaugh expressed his desire for a “head coach of the offense,” and McDaniel fit the profile. McDaniel is known for innovative pre-snap motions and condensed formations that challenge opposing defenses. His offensive strategies have influenced NFL teams leaguewide, with former Bills coach Sean McDermott calling his approach in Miami “revolutionary” and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan admitting he incorporated some of McDaniel’s motions into his own offense.

During his tenure in Miami, which began in 2022, McDaniel helped revitalize quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s career. In his first season, the Dolphins ranked sixth in total yards—the team’s first top-10 finish since 1995—and led the NFL in total offense in 2023. That season, Tagovailoa recorded a career-high 4,624 passing yards and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. McDaniel’s Dolphins set an NFL record with a 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in 2023, becoming the first team in league history to score 70 points while amassing more than 700 yards of offense in a single game. Despite these achievements, McDaniel went 0-2 in playoff appearances, and his offense declined in subsequent seasons. After a Week 15 loss this year, he benched Tagovailoa, and the team struggled under rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers for the final three games of the season.

McDaniel now faces the challenge of helping Herbert secure his first playoff victory, as the quarterback has gone 0-3 in postseason play. Meanwhile, the Chargers must still fill their defensive coordinator position following Jesse Minter’s recent hiring as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.