The Chargers are at a crossroads after firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman. So far, the team has conducted several interviews for the vacant offensive coordinator position. Both passing game coordinator Marcus Brady and QBs coach Shane Day were among those interviewed. The Chargers will now be looking to see what is out there externally on offense around the league.
One of those candidates could be Ex-Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel. ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported yesterday that Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Detroit, and Los Angeles all have "levels of interest" in McDaniel for their vacant OC positions.
Why OC Mike McDaniel would make a lot of sense for the Chargers:
McDaniel would be quite the change of pace for the Chargers. Going from an establish the run gap schemer like Roman to a disciple's evolution of the Shanahan scheme would feel like whiplash. But Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh acknowledged that a change in styles is not something he's necessarily against:
“Wide net being cast," Harbaugh said in regards to offensive candidates and their schemes. “We’re looking for the best one that has a track record, has proven success and can show us his vision for what our offense is going to look like and be like.”
“A lot of ways to skin a cat," Harbaugh claimed.
McDaniel's offensive success with Miami was amongst the best in the league in his four year tenure there. The Dolphins struggled this year as Tua Tagovailoa took a step back and they dealt with injuries to key stars like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But even adding in their down year on offense in 2025 (25th in EPA/play), they're still 12th in the NFL in EPA/play from 2022-25.
The Tagovailoa and McDaniel era in Miami has obviously come to quite the brutal end. But despite the tough start to the season this year with all of the roster deficiencies, McDaniel's players never quite on him. Despite starting 1-6, the Dolphins finished the year 7-10.
Harbaugh is looking for a proven track record and a "head coach of the offense". McDaniel clearly has that as a play caller. Some of the other previous head coach minds in this coaching pool also have that quality like Brian Daboll or Kevin Stefanski.
McDaniel and the Chargers both have relationships with Frank Smith. Smith left the Chargers as OL coach to be the OC in Miami in 2022. If McDaniel was hired to OC the Chargers, could Smith come back to Los Angeles with him to coach the offensive line?
As for Tagovailoa, it's clear that Miami got the most they could out of him as a prospect during McDaniel's first three seasons. The former Alabama star received a Pro Bowl nomination in 2023. Tagovailoa's seasons with a passer rating over 100+: 2022, 2023, 2024; all with McDaniel.
It doesn't take too much of an imagination to see where he could take Herbert. Easy buttons, RPOs, and quick intermediate passing concepts that work are all things the Chargers are in desperate need of.
While Miami never quite figured out the offensive line during the Chris Grier/McDaniel era, they still did have standout rushing performers. De'Von Achane had a career year and earned a Pro Bowl nod. RB Jaylen Wright also came along as a prospect over the last month of the season and showed some development.
Perhaps one of McDaniel's greatest feats this season was reviving the career of TE Darren Waller. In his final five games, Waller had 14 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns after returning from injury during the year. It's not a career year by any means, but certainly not bad for a player who went through retirement and a fair amount of injuries. Imagine what McDaniel could do with his younger self in Oronde Gadsden II.
McDaniel got the best out of his quarterback and playmakers during most of his time in Miami. Even with a very down year at the end, he still had nearly a top-10 offense by efficiency for his tenure. He could bring Harbaugh football into the future with a Shanahanian West Coast evolution.
It would be a jarring change to say the least. But it's hard to watch the tape from the Chargers this year and say that isn't needed with just how little Greg Roman got out of their best players by contrast.