Mike McDaniel has been named the offensive coordinator for the Chargers.

Mike McDaniel Joins Chargers as Offensive Coordinator

Mike McDaniel will not be taking the head coaching job with the Chargers after all.

On Monday, the Los Angeles Chargers announced that McDaniel, previously the head coach of the Dolphins, has signed on as the new offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh.

The 42-year-old McDaniel initially expressed interest in the Chargers’ OC position on January 20, but there was speculation he might reconsider if a head coaching offer came his way. He had been in talks with the Bills and even interviewed with the Raiders.

However, the Chargers confirmed via Instagram on Monday morning that McDaniel is staying put in Los Angeles.

The team’s first Instagram post featured a video of McDaniel in Chargers gear at a table, seemingly preparing for a question-and-answer game. In the clip, he greets viewers with “Sup” and identifies himself as the Chargers offensive coordinator.

Following that, the Chargers shared several humorous memes about their new coach, including one that read “Mic Drop.”

McDaniel started his NFL career as an intern with the Broncos back in 2005. He went on to work with several teams including Houston, Washington, Cleveland, and Atlanta before becoming the offensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2021. He succeeded in leading San Francisco to a seventh-place finish in yards gained and thirteenth in points scored, which earned him the Dolphins’ head coach position the following year.

He stayed with Miami until this offseason, accumulating a record of 35-33 before being let go.

Now, McDaniel takes over the OC role from Greg Roman, who was fired after the Chargers’ disappointing playoff exit against the Patriots.

Before letting Roman go, Harbaugh promised to analyze all aspects of the team’s performance, particularly why they faced early elimination in the postseason again.

In this new role, McDaniel will manage a talented offense that includes quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton, and star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alto. Despite a respectable 11-6 record last season, the Chargers struggled with consistency and finished the year ranked 20th in scoring, averaging 21.6 points per game. Their performance dwindled toward the end of the season; they scored more than 16 points only once in their final game, leading to a 16-3 loss against the Patriots in the AFC Wild Card Round.

The appeal of coaching the Chargers largely revolves around working with Herbert, often considered one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite his talent, Herbert has yet to secure a postseason win, currently sitting at 0-3 in playoff games.