What’s Going on with Mike McDaniel and the Chargers?

The Los Angeles Chargers appeared to get a big win with the reported hire of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel this week.

But tucked into almost every report of the McDaniel hire was a caveat from insiders about how, technically speaking, McDaniel could still be considered in the running for multiple head-coaching jobs.

Understandably, Chargers fans might be left wondering if McDaniel has left Los Angeles without a deal and whether a team like the Las Vegas Raiders still has a chance to play the spoiler.

In short, based on new commentary from an insider, no.

Why hasn’t Mike McDaniel signed with Chargers?

📫📫 1.21 Mailbag 📫📫

📨 @MiamiDolphins OC search.
📨 Will @KirkCousins8 stick in Atlanta?
📨 Mike McDaniel and the @Chargers.
📨 @MacJones_10's future.
📨 Fernando Mendoza ... the only first-round QB?
📨 Who'll be @Titans OC?
📨 MORE!https://t.co/PsouL4abhp
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 21, 2026

McDaniel has left the building for the Chargers, but all signs still point to the deal happening.

In a mailbag, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes that McDaniel “left, and he’s coming back as the team’s offensive coordinator.”

Breer added this about how things might go:

“I’m very intrigued with this hire, and not just because of the fun Odd Couple dynamic that Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel will have, but also the marriage of systems. Harbaugh’s intention, I was told, was to marry his power running game with a Shanahan scheme, to try to help quarterback Justin Herbert take the next steps.”

So, barring an outrageous stunner, the Chargers and McDaniel simply haven’t nailed down the fine details of a deal. But it’s still going to happen.

This meshes with reports that McDaniel started to inform other teams he was signing on the West Coast. Reports similarly said the Chargers had already started informing other teams of their intent to move forward with McDaniel.

And on the topic of personalities and offense, indeed, Jim Harbaugh’s run-first ways and McDaniel’s Shanahan-style passing attacks should make for a pretty interesting offense around franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

Herbert with West Coast roots in his passing game and gap-downhill running with first-round pick Omarion Hampton just sounds like a great blueprint for both the Chargers and McDaniel.

For now, no reason to panic, all things considered. McDaniel might be a short-term hire, perhaps for even as little as one year, but he's suddenly in the driver's seat to play a key role in Herbert's career at a pivotal time before perhaps moving on to other head-coaching chances after 2026.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI —

Sign Up For the Chargers Daily Digest - OnSI’s Free Los Angeles Chargers Newsletter

More Los Angeles Chargers News:

Mike McDaniel narrows his list: Do Chargers have a chance?

Examining Justin Herbert role in Chargers' coach hiring process

What would it take for Chargers to upgrade WR with trade for Cowboys' George Pickens?

Chargers get pair of unexpected coaching hire recommendations