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How McDaniel Was Hilariously Welcomed for His New Gig

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will be returning to Hard Rock Stadium next season.
Alain Poupart|
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Miami Dolphins

It's now official, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's new job for 2026 will be as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The AFC West team made it official Monday along with its usual flair from the social media team.

Included with the announcement were a photoshop of the infamous shot of McDaniel driving by The Elbo Room to troll Buffalo Bills fans after the Dolphins' 30-13 victory at Hard Rock Stadium last November. There also was a short video clip where McDaniel was asked to introduce himself and had a set of fan questions in front of him in a bowl, prompting McDaniel to quip: "This isn't going to be a vape question, is it? I know how you guys roll."

That, of course, was in reference to the Chargers' schedule release video of 2023 making light of McDaniel being caught vaping on the sideline the previous season.

Reports linking McDaniel to the Chargers surfaced a couple of weeks ago, with the caveat being that McDaniel wouldn't land one of the open head coaching positions around the NFL.

McDaniel interviewed for the head coach openings with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, as well as for offensive coordinator positions with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

McDaniel informed the Cleveland Browns the day he met with the Chargers that he no longer wanted to be considered for their head coach opening, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Browns still are looking for a head coach. McDaniel also canceled an interview with the Buffalo Bills that was scheduled to take place in South Florida on Friday.

From a non-football standpoint, the Chargers' job has the location appeal because McDaniel's wife is from California.

From a football perspective, there's a delicious irony here that joining the Chargers would mean McDaniel would go from coaching Tua Tagovailoa to coaching Justin Herbert, moving from the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the sixth pick. And all reports indicate the chance to coach Herbert was a big part of the appeal for McDaniel.

With the Chargers, McDaniel will work under veteran head coach Jim Harbaugh and lead an offense that features 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton at running back, a solid trio of young wide receivers in Ladd McConkey, 2024 first-round pick Quentin Johnston
and Tre Harris, as well as having star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt returning after missing all (Slater) or most (Alt) of the 2025 season because of injuries.

Joining the Chargers also would mean a return to Hard Rock Stadium for McDaniel, who served as head coach of the Dolphins the past four seasons before being fired Jan. 8.

McDaniel produced a 35-33 regular season record (plus 0-2 in the playoff) in his four seasons as Dolphins head coach, and the team finished sixth and first overall in total offense in 2022 and 2023 before falling to 18th and 26th the past two years.

Landing the Las Vegas head coach position would have put McDaniel in a position to coach Fernando Mendoza, who's widely expected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, along with 2025 fifth overall pick Ashton Jeanty, and working with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

WHERE DOLPHINS HEAD COACH WENT AFTER LEAVING

George Wilson (1966-69) — Didn't coach again

Don Shula (1970-95) — Retired

Jimmy Johnson (1996-99) — Retired

Dave Wannstedt (2000-04) — Head coach, University of Pittsburgh

Nick Saban (2005-06) — Head coach, University of Alabama

Cam Cameron (2007) — Offensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens

Tony Sparano (2008-11) — Offensive coordinator, New York Jets

Joe Philbin (2012-15) — Assistant head coach/offensive line coach, Indianapolis Colts

Adam Gase (2016-18) — Head coach, New York Jets

Brian Flores (2019-21) — Senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike McDaniel (2022-25) — Offensive coordinator, L.A. Chargers

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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