Chargers hire former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator Jason OwensJanuary 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM 0 Mike McDaniel officially has a new job. Weeks after he was fired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Monday. pic.twitter.com/puLqoEeiW5 — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 26, 2026 McDaniel was a hot candidate on the coaching market despite his recent dismissal from the Dolphins.
- - Chargers hire former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator
Jason OwensJanuary 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM
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Mike McDaniel officially has a new job.
Weeks after he was fired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Monday.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 26, 2026
McDaniel was a hot candidate on the coaching market despite his recent dismissal from the Dolphins. He reportedly garnered interview requests from the Ravens, Raiders, Browns, Buccaneers and Bills for head coach and coordinator vacancies. But he removed himself from consideration for those opportunities as a move to the Chargers looked likely.
Now, McDaniel will be tasked with improving an offense that struggled the past two postseasons and further developing quarterback Justin Herbert.
Can Mike McDaniel fix what has ailed the Chargers the past two postseasons? (Megan Briggs via Getty Images)Can McDaniel solve the Chargers' offensive playoff woes?
The Chargers made the playoffs in each of head coach Jim Harbaugh's first two seasons on the job. But they fizzled out in the first round of the playoffs in each postseason behind tepid offensive performances. The Chargers lost 32-12 to the Texans in the wild-card round after the 2024 season. And they failed to score a touchdown in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round two weeks ago.
The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin in the aftermath of the loss to New England. The expectation for McDaniel would be to produce an offense that gets the Chargers to the postseason and remain competitive once they get there.
Can Herbert take the next step under McDaniel?
Herbert experienced his most efficient season as a pro in 2024 in his first year under Harbaugh while running Roman's run-heavy scheme. He threw for 227.6 yards per game while tallying 23 touchdowns and a career-low three interceptions in 17 starts.
Herbert followed that with the second Pro Bowl campaign of his six-season career in 2025, averaging 232.9 yards per game with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He did so while playing behind a ravaged offensive line that played most of the season without Pro Bowl starting tackles Joe Alt (ankle) and Rashawn Slater (patellar tendon).
Slater missed the entire season, and both he and Alt were sidelined for the Chargers' playoff loss to the Patriots. Any improvement on the offensive side of the ball will require both to return to health next season.
Does McDaniel still have it as an offensive guru?
McDaniel was fired after the Dolphins missed the playoffs amid a second consecutive season with a losing record. His job was believed to be at stake midseason following a 1-6 start, but the Dolphins rallied to win five of their last eight games and finish 7-10.
As the season progressed, Miami's offensive struggles were pinned on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whom McDaniel benched for the last three weeks of the season. Now, if hired, McDaniel will work with Tagovailoa's 2020 draft classmate Herbert, whom the Chargers selected with the No. 6 pick, one pick after the Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa.
McDaniel developed a reputation as an offensive mastermind as the offensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers, which led to the Dolphins' decision to hire him in 2022. The Chargers are hoping he can rekindle that spark in the same role as they seek to develop into a Super Bowl contender in Herbert's prime.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 26, 2026 at 09:27PM on Source: RED MAG
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