The Los Angeles Chargers didn't make many splashy additions this offseason.
They instead focused on filling out their depth on both sides of the ball and reconstructing their offense, both in their protection and their weaponry. Their most exciting addition of the offseason, therefore, was not one for their roster. It was their hiring of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
McDaniel was fired after four seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. While his motion-heavy offense had plenty of admirers at the beginning of his time in Miami, both his scheme and the talent available to him ultimately fell short near the end of his time there. His final two seasons with the Dolphins yielded a combined 15-19 record.
But McDaniel now gets a fresh start with the Chargers, and he'll be looking to prove his mettle yet again as a head-coaching candidate throughout this season and beyond. Rest assured, when Los Angeles matches up against Miami in Week 16, he'll be taking it personally.
Dolphins expert Brian Miller, when asked what the Dolphins' most difficult game of 2026 might be, answered as expected. It helps set the stage for what could be a moment of vindication for McDaniel this season.
"Miami's most difficult game? Almost all of them. The one that stands out is the Chargers. Mike McDaniel's return is going to be a heavy topic entering that weekend, and by the time they get to Miami, McDaniel will have figured out his offense better. Getting them early would have been better." Brian Miller, PhinPhanatic
Mike McDaniel will be looking to put his full offensive arsenal on display against Miami this season
On the one hand, it was certainly time for a rebuild in Miami. They had gone all-in on talent over the past few seasons, and they had routinely fallen short. They will now enter 2026 with one of the worst rosters in the league and an unproven starter at quarterback. To make matters worse, they are currently just $1.8 million below the cap due to the contracts they had to deal with this offseason. Most of their largest cap hits are for players no longer on the roster, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
By the time we get to Week 16, the Miami matchup should simply be a routine outing for Los Angeles.
But McDaniel certainly wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he likely won't be shy about the fact that he wants his revenge, or at least vindication, against the Dolphins. As Miller says, McDaniel's return will loom heavily in Miami that week. The Chargers matchup will also come at the end of a brutal slate of games for the Dolphins, being preceded by matchups with the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.
McDaniel should have the offense clicking in full force by then, and he'll want to pull out his full bag of tricks against a depleted and worn-down Miami defense.
If the Dolphins are in dire straits as expected by that point in the season, the win will mean very little for Los Angeles. For McDaniel, however, it will mean quite a bit.
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