The Los Angeles Chargers‘ offseason has seen some significant changes for Jim Harbaugh.
Perhaps the biggest (and you could make the case the best) is getting in an offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, to come and be the leading voice in Justin Herbert’s era.
And the prospect of what McDaniel could do for Herbert is a tantalizing prospect in 2026, given his early work with the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa.
It appears that others think the hire is a home run as well. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, who ranks the Chargers 10th in his power rankings, also thinks the McDaniel hire is one of the best made this offseason.
“If losing defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is seen as a blow, the addition of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator might be one the best upgrades of the offseason so far,” Edholm writes.
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Can McDaniel unlock Herbert?
That’s the goal, and in truth, Herbert needs a breakout season in the worst way.
Upgrading his offensive line is a must, and we know how well McDaniel can scheme up the run and pass game, so it should be interesting to watch how the duo develops in 2026.
With the defense likely to again be around the mark, it will be up to McDaniel and the offense to start pulling their weight, and this feels like a shot in the arm for the Chargers, with McDaniel as the offensive play-caller.
A quarterback in Herbert, who has all the talent in the world but has yet to do anything of substance in his NFL career to date, might be about to set the league on fire with McDaniel in his ear.
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