Mike McDaniel expected to join Chargers as offensive coordinator 'barring a change of heart:' report

Mike McDaniel is heading westbound aft being fired arsenic the Miami Dolphins' caput coach.

McDaniel is reportedly expected to go the Los Angeles Chargers’ adjacent violative coordinator, "barring a alteration of heart," according to ESPN.

"McDaniel has informed different teams that they’re out, the Chargers intelligibly privation him, and the 2 sides are having meal tonight," ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday night. "But the anticipation crossed the league is that McDaniel volition beryllium staying successful LA."

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Miami Dolphins caput manager Mike McDaniel stands connected the tract earlier a crippled against the New Orleans Saints astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Fla., Nov. 30, 2025. (Rich Storry/Imagn Images)

The Chargers and caput manager Jim Harbaugh moved connected from violative coordinator Greg Roman aft a brutal nonaccomplishment to the New England Patriots successful the wild-card round. Los Angeles finished 12th successful yards per crippled (333.8), though they were mediate of the battalion successful points scored (21.6).

McDaniel’s firing successful Miami came arsenic a spot of a astonishment aft ownership backed him lone to relieve him of his duties soon after.

Dolphins choky extremity Darren Waller adjacent said helium was "at the country of the crime" erstwhile helium was successful the mediate of his exit interrogation with McDaniel arsenic proprietor Stephen Ross "kicked the doorway open" astir 10 minutes into their discussion.

DOLPHINS' DARREN WALLER SAYS HE WAS KICKED OUT OF EXIT MEETING WITH COACH MIKE MCDANIEL BEFORE FIRING

"He comes successful and, like, joins the conversation," Waller said. "We're conscionable each talking, reflecting connected the year, and Stephen Ross was like, ‘Love to person you backmost adjacent year.’ Then the speech benignant of conscionable hits a lull."

Since then, McDaniel has been flying astir for interviews for some caput coaching and violative coordinator opportunities. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles some pursued McDaniel arsenic their apical violative coordinator candidate, according to ESPN.

However, the study adds that "the lure of getting backmost to California and coaching Justin Herbert proved strongest" arsenic McDaniel was being courted crossed the league.

The Dolphins made back-to-back playoff appearances successful McDaniel’s archetypal 2 seasons arsenic caput manager but were eliminated some times successful the archetypal round. The pursuing season, they were eliminated aft an unexpected nonaccomplishment to the New York Jets successful the team’s play finale. 

Miami Dolphins caput manager Mike McDaniel leaves the tract astatine the extremity of a crippled against the Los Angeles Chargers astatine Hard Rock Stadium Oct. 12, 2025. (Rich Storry/Imagn Images)

McDaniel’s last play successful Miami was tumultuous, highlighted by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's struggles and his eventual benching the last 3 games of the season.  

As 1 of his past large moves arsenic caput coach, McDaniel said this week that the Dolphins would clasp a quarterback competition for the 2026 season, a determination Tagovailoa seemed to invited this week erstwhile helium confirmed helium was unfastened to a "fresh start" determination else.

There’s nary backmost contention for the Chargers. Herbert has been the prima astatine the presumption since helium was drafted sixth wide successful 2020. He earned his 2nd Pro Bowl motion this twelvemonth aft throwing for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions down 1 of the worst violative lines successful shot aft tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt were mislaid for the season.

Since taking over, Harbaugh rapidly got the Chargers backmost successful the playoffs, but they’re searching for that archetypal playoff triumph nether the seasoned coach. They mislaid successful the wild-card circular past play to the Houston Texans arsenic well.

Miami Dolphins caput manager Mike McDaniel runs to the locker country aft the archetypal fractional of a crippled Sept. 14, 2025, successful Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Not lone volition McDaniel person an accurate, strong-throwing quarterback, but determination are a fewer weapons to beryllium optimistic astir moving forward, including moving backs Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal and receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

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