Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh announced on Wednesday that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will remain the team’s playcaller despite the Chargers’ winless start to the season. The decision follows a self-scouting review conducted during the Week 7 bye week, according to reporting from The Athletic.
Harbaugh’s statement emphasized full confidence in McDaniel’s abilities, stating, “We’re very confident in Mike and his talent, his work ethic and his ability. We continue to be.” He added that the staff examined “every stone” for improvement opportunities, framing the review as a proactive response to the team’s struggles.
The Chargers entered their bye week at 0-6, the NFL’s only winless team. Their offense has averaged 15.0 points per game, the league’s worst mark, after a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. Quarterback Justin Herbert has tied for the most interceptions in the NFL with eight this season.
McDaniel’s Role and Background
McDaniel joined the Chargers in January after the Miami Dolphins fired him as head coach following a four-year tenure. His hiring was widely viewed as a move to revitalize an offense that had produced just one touchdown in two postseason defeats under Harbaugh. McDaniel has implemented changes such as altering Herbert’s shotgun stance by setting his left foot ahead of his right, along with footwork drills using a green water ball for simulated throws.
Herbert, who Harbaugh previously called “the greatest quarterback ever” before the season, declined to attribute the offensive struggles to McDaniel. “It’s not his fault, it’s our fault as an offense,” Herbert said. “We have to do our job. It’s not Mike’s fault. The guys are open, plays are being made. It’s on us to run, to block, to catch, to throw.”
Team Response and Next Steps
The Chargers’ offensive production has drawn scrutiny, including a 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos in 2023 under McDaniel’s leadership with the Dolphins. Harbaugh framed the decision to retain McDaniel as part of a broader commitment to the staff’s collective effort, stating, “I feel like every stone, any part that we could look to better, that’s the way we responded.”
The team will resume play in Week 8, seeking its first victory of the season. The decision to retain McDaniel underscores Harbaugh’s confidence in the offensive scheme and personnel, despite the current winless streak.