Chargers running back Kimani Vidal sat down with Bolt Beat this week for an interview following his 2025 season. To check out the full interview, you can either see it at the link embedded below or in transcript form here.
An interesting nugget Vidal dropped in our conversation surrounded his offseason plans. I asked the Chargers’ second year running back about his thoughts on new OC Mike McDaniel. This was how he responded:
“I mean, I’m excited. I’m actually here training with Raheem Mostert and he was kind of telling me about him (Mike McDaniel). And what it was like in his offense. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get back out to LA and soak up the playbook, everything I need to work on and get better at to better fit and provide to the team.”
Kimani Vidal is training with Raheem Mostert to prepare for Mike McDaniel's offense
Raheem Mostert was with McDaniel from 2022-24 in Miami. He was cut in 2025 due to cap constraints and injuries that piled up for the veteran back. But Mostert hit career highs with McDaniel. In 2023, Mostert put up 1012 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns. He also added in 3 receiving scores. It was the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Prior to Miami, Mostert spent time with McDaniel when they both were with the Niners.
Getting to pick Mostert’s brain seems like a good thing for Vidal. He’s doing everything in his power to be a “better fit” for McDaniel in his own words. Vidal worked best, in particular, on outside zone runs last season. That is McDaniel’s bread and butter in the run game.
The Chargers also added Keaton Mitchell in free agency. Harbaugh referred to Hampton, Vidal, and Mitchell as a “thunder and lightning” type backfield. Entering the draft, it’s fair to say the Chargers have one of the deepest running backs rooms in the league on paper.
Vidal will look to build off his 600+ yard breakout campaign next year. Assuming Hampton is healthy, he’ll likely be back in a rotation role. But what he put on tape last year demonstrated that he needs to be part of the room in some capacity, regardless.