The Los Angeles Chargers have entered "Phase 2" of their offseason workout program. As the team's newest additions start to gain more familiarity with the organization and the coaching staff, now is the time where we can start to sense out what the dynamics will be across the roster in 2026.
Mike McDaniel's fit as offensive coordinator is still a bit of a question mark. Schematically, there's no doubt he's the right man for the job. He's still seen as one of the league's premier offensive minds even after his failures with the Miami Dolphins. He should be able to maximize both Justin Herbert's skill-set and the offense as a whole with his motion-heavy, outside-zone-dependent scheme.
But his critics, especially those from his Miami days, will point to his antics both on the field and in interviews as reasons why he fell short as a head coach. Fans often thought his teams in Miami were under-prepared and under-disciplined.
We've had plenty of those fun moments already in Los Angeles. But if McDaniel wants to earn another shot as a head coach, he'll need to prove to the league that he can keep a unit disciplined and focused over the course of a whole season. According to David Njoku's early impressions of him, he's well on his way toward earning that respect with the Bolts.
David Njoku on Mike McDaniel: “We see the funny stuff but when it’s time to work, he’s down to work.”
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) May 19, 2026
Said he chose the Chargers over other teams because it was the best fit — and Justin Herbert pic.twitter.com/8wUUgWn5kQ
Mike McDaniel will need to command the respect of the Chargers' offense in 2026
To be clear, there were significantly more problems in Miami than McDaniel's quirks. Although the roster went all-in on talent during his time there, there were severe shortcomings with their quarterback play. Tua Tagovailoa missed at least three games in all but one of McDaniel's seasons there, and he was not always among the league's most viable quarterbacks even when he was healthy.
Their defense also saw a major decline in 2025, dropping from the fourth-fewest yards allowed to the seventh-most under the watch of defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. McDaniel was fired after the team posted a 7-10 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Many Miami fans place a heavy portion of the blame for these failures on McDaniel.
But McDaniel now has a chance to rid himself of that stigma in Los Angeles. He's already developed a clear chemistry with the no-nonsense Jim Harbaugh, and he'll have the tools at his disposal to elevate the Chargers offense into the league's elite.
Njoku has only been a member of the organization for a week and a half, and these are likely the closest encounters he's had with McDaniel so far. The clear truth is that, while McDaniel can be a bit of an odd-ball at times, he's one of the sharpest football minds in the entire league. It's something he'll get another chance to prove in Los Angeles.
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