Brian Daboll will interview for the Chargers' offensive coordinator job. Despite his lackluster head coaching tenure, the former Giants head coach has a strong market to be an offensive coordinator.
Daboll was once considered the favorite for the Chargers' HC job in 2021 before Brandon Staley got the gig in a rather shocking turn of events. Daboll spent one more year as the Bills' OC before he was hired as the head coach of the Giants in 2022.
Brian Daboll could (finally) join the Chargers as their offensive coordinator.
Daboll was fired by New York in November. It ended a four-year run as Giants head coach. Daboll clinched a playoff berth in his first season with New York, but never got more than six wins in his final three years with the franchise.
Daboll certainly fits one aspect that head coachJim Harbaugh is looking for in his OC search. At his end of season media availability, Harbaugh said he wants a "head coach of the offense" with a proven track record. In addition to names like Mike McDaniel or Kevin Stefanski, Daboll certainly has experience with both calling plays and running a team.
Daboll is one of the few candidates that also has play calling experience both as an OC and a head coach. He called plays for the Giants in 2024 while Mike Kafka handled duties in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
He also played a large role in the development of Josh Allen from 2018-2021 in Buffalo as OC. For what it's worth, Jaxson Dart made some strides in development this year as a former one-read college QB under Daboll and Kafka. The Giants actually finished the 2025 season 10th in EPA/play on offense.
Daboll's offense can be described as very QB friendly relative to Greg Roman's. It can also give Justin Herbert more responsibility and empower him at the line of scrimmage. Daboll has shown his ability in refining the mechanics of players like Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, and the aforementioned Dart. As jittery as Herbert was in the playoff game vs. New England, one of Daboll's missions would be making sure that his next playoff run is calm, cool, and collected.
What wasn't as calm, cool, and collected is some of Daboll's Giants tenure. Outbursts on the sidelines weren't too uncommon in New York. With OC duties, it's not as big of a concern. But one would imagine the upstairs box could be where he resides instead of being on the field in terms of fit with Harbaugh.
But even with the small holes that could be poked in the case for Daboll, condensed splits would open up plenty of opportunities for Herbert. He could help Herbert with both pre- and post-snap processing. Daboll has not had a QB with Herbert's level of arm talent since Allen in Buffalo.
Daboll would give the Chargers their first chance for an elite passing game under Herbert in quite some time. Backside digs, deep overs and crossers would be utilized to perfection. The Chargers also need to figure out how to get Ladd McConkey involved again. When considering what Daboll did with Cole Beasley back in Buffalo or Wan'Dale Robinson in New York, that wouldn't be a problem.
McDaniel remains my number one OC choice, but Daboll has to be one of the priority candidates for Los Angeles.