Chargers Stick With McDaniel Despite Winless Start

The Los Angeles Chargers remain the only winless team in the National Football League. Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced on Wednesday that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will continue to call plays for the offense.

Harbaugh stated the decision followed a thorough self-scouting process during the team's Week 7 bye. He told reporters, "We're very confident in Mike and his talent, his work ethic and his ability." The coach added that the staff examined every possible area for improvement during the break.

The Chargers enter their next game with a 0-6 record. In their final match before the bye, they lost 22-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs. That loss marked a season-low score of six points and limited the team to just 259 total yards. The defeat lowered the Chargers' points-per-game average to 15.0, the lowest figure in the league.

McDaniel joined the Chargers after serving four seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was dismissed by Miami in January. Harbaugh hired him to revitalize an offense that had managed only one touchdown in two previous playoff losses. McDaniel aims to help quarterback Justin Herbert fully own the position.

The two began working together in the offseason with technical adjustments. Herbert changed his shotgun stance by moving his left foot in front of his right. He also spent practice days focusing on footwork while throwing a water ball. McDaniel has implemented similar stance changes for other quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa.

On the field, the offense has struggled to produce. Herbert has thrown eight interceptions this season, tying for the lead in the NFL. He was picked off by Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in Week 3. In Week 4, he threw two interceptions to Seattle Seahawks linebackers Drake Thomas and Ernest Jones IV.

McDaniel arrives in Los Angeles with a reputation for building high-scoring offenses. In 2023, his Miami Dolphins defeated the Denver Broncos 70-20. That game saw the team gain over 700 yards and tie the record for points scored in a single contest.