Mike McDaniel’s résumé may soon read unemployed.
The 0-6 Chargers boast the league’s worst offense (No. 32 in DVOA) and are averaging just 15 points per game, with speculation running rampant that Los Angeles will fire its offensive coordinator.
Pro Football Talk reports there’s “growing buzz” that Jim Harbaugh will fire McDaniel as the team’s offense continues to flounder in bizarre fashion.
The Chargers put up a lackluster effort on Sunday, again failing to score a touchdown as they were beaten 22-6 by the Chiefs.
If McDaniel is fired, former Jets head coach Adam Gase is expected to take over play-calling duties for the Chargers. He’s currently their passing game specialist.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said when asked whether McDaniel would still be the play caller.
“The job I’m doing, it starts with me. We’ll watch this and get with our offensive coaches,” Harbaugh added. “I see the effort, I see the work being put in in the meetings, on the practice field, and to get that to translate to the field is what’s necessary. Feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. And [offense] needs to be addressed.”
McDaniel had previously signed to be the Dolphins head coach through 2028 and was fired last offseason.
He chose to continue coaching this season as the Chargers offensive coordinator gig became available. McDaniel is likely still being paid by Miami with his Chargers salary being offset by the big contract he got from Miami.
In Miami, McDaniel was a bit of an offensive mastermind, but that hasn’t translated to Hollywood.
The Dolphins averaged at least 6 yards per play in 2022 and ’23 and ranked top three in that category across the league, with now-backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as his starter.
The Chargers are currently averaging 4.6 yards per play, 26th in the league.
Among the Chargers’ many issues is their running game, which was supposed to be led by former first-round pick Omarion Hampton, though he appears to have fallen down the depth chart.
Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal have taken significant snaps at running back, though none of the three have been very effective.
Justin Herbert has also been a disaster this season, leading the NFL in interceptions and posting just a 59.4 percent completion rate, the third-worst among starters.
