One offseason move that generated a ton of buzz in the NFL this year was the Los Angeles Chargers hiring Mike McDaniel as the team’s offensive coordinator. McDaniel is widely regarded as one of the most impressive offensive minds in the league, so everyone is intrigued to see him paired with a talented quarterback like Justin Herbert.
While McDaniel and Hebert have already been hard at work at growing together, the offensive coordinator’s likely impact on another Chargers player has been overlooked. That player is second-year running back Omarion Hampton, and considering how creative McDaniel is with the run game, Hampton could be set up for a breakout season.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak recently detailed that in a piece highlighting some exciting new coach-player scheme pairings. McDaniel and Hampton were one of the eight pairs acknowledged, with Solak saying, “This is a big-play walking in an offense built to get big plays out of the running back. Time for fireworks.”
Mike McDaniel and Omarion Hampton predicted to produce fireworks for Chargers offense
Solak acknowledged that most of McDaniel’s arrival has been all about what he can do for Herbert. However, after looking at the coach’s history, it’s clear Hampton could end up being the biggest winner from this hire.
McDaniel spent four seasons as a run game specialist and run game coordinator under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers, and one year as the offensive coordinator, before becoming the head coach for the Miami Dolphins. One consistent across all those roles is that the run game was booming.
Solak detailed that, saying, “McDaniel uses the ground game less as a jab and more as a haymaker.” The writer used Miami leading the league in explosive run rate on running back carries to drive home that point. Solak believes that plays right into Hampton’s strengths, as he has already shown th ability to be explosive.
As a rookie last season, the running back carried the ball 124 times for 545 yards and four touchdowns, in just nine games. With a year of experience, and paired up with one of the best offensive minds in the game, Omarion Hampton has a chance to establish himself as a star in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google