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Mike McDaniel is heading west after being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
McDaniel is expected to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ next offensive coordinator “unless he changes his mind,” according to ESPN.
“McDaniel has informed other teams that he’s out, the Chargers clearly want him and the two sides will have dinner tonight,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday night. “But the expectation around the league is that McDaniel will stay in Los Angeles.”
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is on the field before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on November 30, 2025. (Rich Story/Picture Images)
The Chargers and head coach Jim Harbaugh left offensive coordinator Greg Roman after a brutal loss to the New England Patriots in the wild card round. Los Angeles finished 12th in yards per game (333.8), although they were in the middle of the pack in points scored (21.6).
McDaniel’s firing in Miami came as a bit of a surprise after ownership endorsed him only to relieve him of his duties shortly after.
Dolphins tight end Darren Waller even said he was “at the crime scene” when he was in the middle of his exit interview with McDaniel when owner Stephen Ross “kicked open the door” about 10 minutes into their argument.
DOLPHINS’ DARREN WALLER SAYS HE WAS KICKED OUT OF EXIT MEETING WITH COACH MIKE MCDANIEL BEFORE GOODBYE
“He comes in and joins the conversation,” Waller said. “We were all talking, reflecting on the year, and Stephen Ross said, ‘I’d love to have you back next year.’ Then the conversation reached a lull.”
Since then, McDaniel has been flying in to interview for both head coaching and offensive coordinator opportunities. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles pursued McDaniel as their top offensive coordinator candidate, according to ESPN.
However, the report adds that “the lure of returning to California and coaching Justin Herbert proved stronger” while McDaniel was being courted across the league.
The Dolphins made consecutive playoff appearances in McDaniel’s first two seasons as head coach, but were eliminated both times in the first round. The following season, they were eliminated after an upset loss to the New York Jets in the team’s season finale.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel leaves the field at the end of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on October 12, 2025. (Rich Story/Picture Images)
McDaniel’s final season in Miami was tumultuous, highlighted by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles and eventual benching in the final three games of the season.
As one of his last major moves as head coach, McDaniel said this week that the Dolphins would hold a quarterback competition for the 2026 season, a decision Tagovailoa appeared to welcome this week when he confirmed he was open to a “fresh start” elsewhere.
There is no quarterback competition for the Chargers. Herbert has been the star at the position since being selected sixth overall in 2020. He earned his second Pro Bowl nod this year after throwing for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions behind one of the worst offensive lines in football after tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt were lost for the season.
Since taking over, Harbaugh quickly got the Chargers back to the playoffs, but they are looking for that first playoff win under the veteran coach. They also lost in the wild card round last season to the Houston Texans.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel runs to the locker room after the first half of a game on September 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Not only will McDaniel have an accurate, strong-shooting quarterback, but there are also some weapons to be optimistic about moving forward, including running backs Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal and receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
