Daniel Popper of The Athletic previously reported that tight end Oronde Gadsden could have a top-tier season thanks to McDaniel. Now, it’s been reported that Tre’ Harris is poised for a bigger role, and that Ladd McConkey could “have a bounce-back season in [Mike] McDaniel’s offense.”

With the possible departure of Keenan Allen, Harris could slide into that role, while also opening quite a lot of options for McConkey. Per Popper, “I can see McDaniel maximizing McConkey’s shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability on some of these same concepts.”

Mike McDaniel is creating plenty of hype

McDaniel’s arrival is creating quite the buzz inside the Chargers building. The fact is Justin Herbert has always been talented but hasn’t had the help needed to succeed. Now, with McDaniel, he could have two weapons develop into top-tier wide receivers.

McConkey has shown he could be a WR1. And for Harris, he is a second-round pick, so he has talent and there are expectations about him. McDaniel can help this offense as a whole. He must deliver on this expectations.

The Chargers are a boom-or-bust team

Now, the Chargers have the talent, the head coach, the quarterback, the offensive coordinator, and the prospects to win it all. If they don’t succeed this year, plenty of doubts and criticism will be over the franchise.

Popper not only assured that Mitchell is a great fit for the Chargers, but also that the “acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive” under the McDaniel scheme. Mitchell’s skill set compares to what McDaniel had in Miami with De’Von Achane, albeit with far lesser production.

Still, Mitchell had 341 yards averaging a whopping 5.8 yards per carry. Achane averaged a 5.7 yards per attempt, which led the NFL in players with more than 6.25 rushes per game. Hence, now they have an explosive player ready to roll.

Mitchell will be RB2 though

Despite all the buzz around his signing, it’s still expected that Mitchell will serve as the second back on the team, with Omarion Hampton carrying the bigger workload. Hampton is a more physical, straight runner than Mitchell.

Hampton is a more complete, high-volume back. Mitchell will be used as a specialized, change-of-pace weapon. Now, he might thrive and excel at that role, which is what Popper reported. The running game could be a massive unit for the Chargers.

The Chargers coaching staff is a rush-loving crew

Jim Harbaugh loves a good running game. Mike McDaniel is a sucker for a good running game. Hence, look at it now. Two running backs, two different skill sets, and two masterminds when it comes to running the football.

There’s also plenty of hype on Oronde Gadsden, the tight end. However, the real evolution in this offense will be how the running game helps unleash Justin Herbert. The quarterback could have plenty of help if the running backs do their job.

Per Popper’s report, the signing of tight end Charlie Kolar “will allow Oronde Gadsden to play in a role that maximizes the 2025 fifth-round pick’s receiving skill set.” That is great news for Justin Herbert, who found an unexpected weapon in the tight end last season.

Gadsden came out of nowhere and produced 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Now, Mike McDaniel and his highly-productive scheme could make Gadsden one of the best tight ends in football, at least in the receiving aspect of it.

McDaniel has made wonders with other tight ends

McDaniel had underwhelming tight ends his first two years as the Dolphins head coach, but once he got Jonnu Smith, things changed. In the 2024 season, Smith had 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 88 receptions.

McDaniel was also the 49ers offensive coordinator, where he had George Kittle. Now, Kittle is a superstar and he would arguably deliver in every scheme imaginable. Still, McDaniel’s scheme follows the Shanahan scheme, which means tight ends are not only important, but key to success.

The Chargers are not done

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that the Chargers were keeping tabs on AJ Brown. While those rumors have dimmed, the fact is that this means the Chargers are in the market, active. After all, they have money to spend.

The Chargers have $59.5 million in cap space, which is the second-highest in the NFL this season. They have brought offensive players in Tyler Biadasz, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold, and Charlie Kolar. They brought four names in defense, and plenty more will be spent.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Chargers are hiring Adam Gase as passing game coordinator. This means he will work very closely with Justin Herbert. Gase was last seen coaching the New York Jets in the NFL.

After that, it’s been a five-year hiatus for a coach that seemed like the NFL passed him over. While Mike McDaniel will oversee all things offense with head coach Jim Harbaugh, having someone like Gase might be troublesome if he is indeed outdated with the current NFL landscape.

Gase has a very bad reputation

Gase rose to prominence in the NFL thanks to being the Broncos OC during the Peyton Manning days. That granted him the Dolphins HC position from 2016 to 2017. He had a 23-25 record with the Dolphins, but that didn’t stop the Jets from hiring as the head coach too. It was a disaster, even if he had now-Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold under center. He ended up with a 9-23 record with the Jets. Overall, his HC record is 32-48 and no one saw him since then.

Since 2024, Gase was a strategic advisor for the football intelligence, technology, and media company The 33rd Team alongside Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. Hence, Gase has been watching the NFL from outside of the bubble. It’s a really weird hire by the Chargers.

The Chargers have a lot of pressure on their shoulders

The Chargers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2018 season. After that, they’ve missed four playoff trips and have also lost three times in the Wild Card Round. At first, they changed the coach to bring back Jim Harbaugh. Now, they changed the OC and brought the mastermind Mike McDaniel to call plays. Those two paired with an elite talent like Justin Herbert makes this offense a force to be reckoned with.

As reported by CBS‘ Matt Zenitz, the Chargers are on the verge of hiring an offensive assistant from the Miami Dolphins for the coming season. “It’s considered a strong possibility the Chargers hire Dolphins offensive assistant Max McCaffrey, potentially as running backs coach,” Zenitz wrote on his X account.

With McDaniel in the coaching staff, the Chargers are optimistic about their future, and the potential addition of McCaffrey could significantly enhance their aspirations. McDaniel and McCaffrey previously worked together in Miami, where their collaboration held promise despite not achieving standout results.

Reflecting on his time with the Dolphins, McDaniel discussed the challenges he faced after Tua Tagovailoa’s injury. Now with the Chargers, he is eager to demonstrate why he is considered one of the NFL’s premier coaches.

McCaffrey’s NFL background

After retiring as a player, McCaffrey began his coaching career at the University of Northern Colorado as a wide receivers coach in 2020. A year later, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, and in 2023, he joined the Dolphins as an offensive assistant.

Having held multiple roles within coaching staffs, McCaffrey could be a valuable addition for the Chargers, a team that failed to reach its potential during the regular season. Their loss to the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round—one of the eventual Super Bowl LX contenders—highlighted the need for strategic reinforcement.

As one of the three McCaffrey brothers, Max’s potential move to the Chargers is generating buzz. His arrival could play a crucial role in building a formidable coaching staff as the team gears up to compete in a season that will crown a new defending champion.

The Dolphins fired McDaniel after four seasons as head coach, a stretch that included early promise but inconsistent results. He now joins the Chargers’ coaching staff under head coach Jim Harbaugh, taking on a new role as he looks to rebuild his reputation in a familiar offensive-minded position.

During his introductory press conference, McDaniel addressed how Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion significantly impacted the Dolphins’ offensive production in 2024. The quarterback missed a substantial portion of the season due to injury and struggled to return to peak form during the 2025 NFL campaign.

“Football is a humbling game, regardless of how good you are as a coach,” McDaniel said. “We dealt with injury issues with Tua the previous year, and it really brought into focus how critical the quarterback position is to your overall effectiveness, both as a coach and as a team.”

McDaniel explained that balancing responsibilities as a head coach while also calling plays narrowed his perspective. He noted that the challenges forced him to reevaluate his approach and ultimately sharpened his focus on offensive execution, something he believes will benefit him in Los Angeles.

How the situation was handled in Miami between Tua and McDaniel

Without Tagovailoa, Miami went 1–3, then dropped his first two games after his return by a combined four points. The Dolphins later found momentum, winning five of their next seven games, before Tagovailoa was sidelined again for the final two contests, one win and one loss, due to a hip injury.

McDaniel eventually benched Tagovailoa during the final three games of the 2025 season after the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention. Miami, which reached the wild-card round in each of McDaniel’s first two seasons, finished second in the AFC East at 8–9 in 2024 and slipped to third place in 2025 with a 7–10 record, a downturn that ultimately sealed his dismissal.

Although the former Miami Dolphins coach interviewed with several teams—not just for coordinator roles but also for head coaching positions—McDaniel ultimately expressed great enthusiasm for the Chargers’ offer, eager to work not only with Jim Harbaugh but also with Justin Herbert.

“He was in high spirits and just excited about attacking something,” McDaniel said via NFL.com. “You lose in the playoffs in the first round, it’s a lot of work that you feel kind of like you have an empty stomach. So that hunger, I could hear in his voice. He was excited to start a new chapter, and to really tackle the process of the offseason to be our best versions of ourselves come next fall.

“So it was enthusiastic. I was in a room talking with a really loud, inside voice out of passion, and I think he recognized that we were both geeked for the future and the possibilities that it brings.”

McDaniel’s experience as a West Coast OC

Mike McDaniel was the tactical engine behind the 49ers’ dominant ground game before taking over as Offensive Coordinator in 2021. During his five-year tenure in San Francisco, he transformed a revolving door of running backs into a top-tier unit, helping the team rank 7th in total offense and reach the NFC Championship in his final season.

Known for weaponizing Deebo Samuel in the ‘wide-back’ role, McDaniel’s creative play-design and run-game expertise became the blueprint for the 49ers’ offensive identity.

Maximizing Herbert’s stats

Despite a solid individual campaign in 2025, Justin Herbert and the Chargers are looking for a spark to elevate their offensive ceiling. Herbert finished the season with 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, posting a 60.7 QBR (94.1 passer rating) while navigating a run-heavy scheme.

With the high-profile arrival of Mike McDaniel as the new Offensive Coordinator, the goal is to modernize the playbook and maximize Herbert’s elite arm talent. McDaniel, known for his creative play-design and success in Miami and San Francisco, is expected to refine Herbert’s efficiency and turn those numbers into a more explosive, top-tier offense for the 2026 season.

Mike McDaniel was scheduled to interview for the Bills HC job on Friday. However, in a plot twist, McDaniel canceled the meeting. This is not the first time McDaniel has canceled an interview, as he shut down a second interview for the Browns’ head coaching gig.

There have been theories about why McDaniel canceled the appointments. As for the Browns, it’s quite simple, that franchise is an organizational mess right now, and McDaniel can look at the Chargers as the best way to enhance his image. As for the Bills, rumors say that Wednesday’s bizarre press conference of owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane might have been a turn off for McDaniel. However, it’s also rumored that the Bills might still get an interview.

The Bills have many turn-offs, but also a major turn-on

Coaching Justin Herbert in L.A is something McDaniel might see as a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, there are just a handful of names that could be more tempting. One of them is Bills’ quartertback, Josh Allen. Allen is a top-2 QB in the NFL and you don’t get the opportunity to coach that kind of player every year.

However, the Chargers are a much stable organization, with a proper HC in Jim Harbaugh, a great QB and offensive roster where McDaniel can just focus on scoring. On the Bills, he has to reinvent everything. The team is looking for a new culture and playoffs success, which were the causes for his downfall in Miami. Also, red flags have risen about Beane and Pegula. Beane hasn’t been the best GM in the NFL but was given even more power, and Pegula is out there taking shots against former coach Sean McDermott.

McDaniel seems to be very analitical of where he lands

For McDaniel, he is weighing his opportunity of success. The Browns are rock-bottom, so fixing it would be a huge thing for his career. The downside is that this team, nowadays, is one of the more dysfunctional, drama-filled franchises in the league. At Buffalo, the fact is that there is every reason to believe the team is going in a downward spiral under the current administration.

Hence, McDaniel seems to not like those spots despite being head coaching jobs. As for the Chargers, they are a playoff team that needs to get over the hump. However, McDaniel’s sole responsibility would be to make the offense click, and he has the tools to do so. Herbert is a top-tier QB, Omarion Hampton is a very promising running back, Ladd McConkey can be a star wide receiver, Quentin Johnston gives the team a deep threat, and he will have a top offensive line if healthy.

The latest report, shared by insider Ian Rapoport on X, indicates that the Los Angeles franchise is set to interview former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel in the coming days.

While McDaniel remains one of the leading candidates to land a head coaching job among the teams that parted ways with their HC this past season, his strong track record as an offensive coordinator makes him an ideal fit to work alongside Harbaugh following Greg Roman’s departure.

The former Dolphins coach is also believed to be a top target for the Detroit Lions, who are reportedly eyeing him as a potential addition to Dan Campbell’s staff. Ultimately, it will come down to which direction McDaniel chooses as he weighs his options ahead of next season.

Harbaugh targets a fresh start

Two straight playoff exits—combined with just one total touchdown scored across both games—have forced the Chargers into a period of self-reflection. Greg Roman’s departure felt inevitable, and now Harbaugh understands that the team needs a breath of fresh air moving forward.

“A fresh start, a new direction,” the HC said, via the team’s official website. “Greg is a great football mind, had a lot of success. Also a fresh start for him, fresh start for our team and our offense.”

He also added: “There was much that was done well, much that was done really good. Multiple [offensive] line combinations, that was true. It was very hard, very tough. The NFL is unforgiving, it’s unfair, it’s hard, that’s the nature of the business. What we feel like is a direction that’s going to make us better, we’re always striving for that. Whether that’s with players, coaches, myself included. It’s a results-oriented business.”

Herbert looks to boost his 2025 stats

Last season, Justin Herbert posted 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions with a 60.8 QBR. While these numbers remain solid, he will likely aim to sharpen his efficiency and reduce turnovers to reclaim his status among the league’s elite next year.

And that’s where the name of Mike McDaniel comes into play, who also found himself out of a job around the same time as Harbaugh. The former Miami Dolphins head coach is considered a serious candidate for the Ravens’ vacancy, and a meeting is already scheduled for this week.

The news was confirmed by insider Tom Pelissero via his X account, who also reported that McDaniel has meetings scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans, all for head coaching positions.

An interesting twist in this story? Dan Campbell is reportedly open to bringing McDaniel on as the offensive coordinator for the Lions—a role he knows well and excelled in during his time with the 49ers.

How could McDaniel elevate Lamar Jackson?

Mike McDaniel’s offensive brilliance could exponentially elevate Lamar Jackson’s elite talent as he chases his first Super Bowl ring. By implementing McDaniel’s signature high-speed schemes and creative spacing, Jackson could find the tactical evolution needed to transcend his current limits. This synergy promises to turn Lamar’s dual-threat ability into an unstoppable postseason force.

What’s next for John Harbaugh?

As the NFL coaching carousel spins, John Harbaugh has emerged as the premier candidate for teams like the Giants, who value his championship pedigree, and the Dolphins, who are eager to make a splash after parting with Mike McDaniel.

However, the sweepstakes could take a wild turn depending on playoff results, as Harbaugh could reportedly join Josh Allen’s Bills if Buffalo decides to move on from Sean McDermott following this postseason.

Since being fired by the Miami Dolphins, Mike McDaniel has quickly become one of the most intriguing names in the NFL’s coaching carousel. While several teams around the league view him primarily as an offensive coordinator, others believe he still has the profile to succeed as a head coach in the right situation.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the recently fired Dolphins head coach is expected to interview for Cleveland’s vacancy. McDaniel is widely regarded as a creative offensive mind who helped elevate Tua Tagovailoa into one of the league’s most productive passers during his peak seasons. Despite the scrutiny surrounding his exit from Miami, the 42-year-old continues to command respect across the NFL.

An ideal move for the Browns

The Browns are expected to move forward with quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel next season, or potentially explore another option in the NFL Draft. Either path prioritizes quarterback development, which places added value on a head coach with a proven track record of maximizing talent at the position.

McDaniel had a clear impact on Tagovailoa during his early years with the Dolphins, helping him become a more efficient and confident NFL quarterback. Under McDaniel’s system, Tagovailoa showed improved accuracy, decision-making, and overall command of the offense.

Miami reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons, 2022-23 and 2023-24, for the first time in more than two decades. In that sense, McDaniel’s tenure mirrored Kevin Stefanski’s in Cleveland, as both coaches led franchises to competitive heights that had been rare in recent years. However, McDaniel also faced criticism when injuries and inconsistent quarterback play limited Miami’s success.

When a franchise moves on from a two-time Coach of the Year like Stefanski, the expectation is to find a strong culture-setter or an innovative play-caller capable of elevating the roster. While it remains unclear whether McDaniel would represent a clear upgrade, his offensive pedigree and experience make him a compelling and promising option for the Browns heading into the next NFL season.