Sources: Chargers expected to hire Mike McDaniel as OC

Los Angeles – The chargers Expect to hire former miami dolphins Coach Mike McDaniels will be the team’s new offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington on Tuesday night.

McDaniels has interviewed for several head coaching and offensive coordinator positions since being fired by the Dolphins last week.

buccaneers and this philadelphia eagles Tampa Bay pursued him as their top offensive coordinator target, sources told Darlington, particularly diligent in his courtship. However, the temptation to return to California, where he spent years san francisco 49ersAnd the chance to coach a talented quarterback Justin Herbert That helped inform McDaniel’s final decision, and barring a change of heart, he will join coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.

Harbaugh has been searching for a new offensive coordinator since firing Greg Roman two days after the team’s 16-3 playoff loss last Tuesday. new England Patriots In the wild-card round. Roman was Harbaugh’s only offensive coordinator in the NFL, but Roman’s offense was inconsistent and lacked creativity. In two playoff appearances, the Chargers’ offense had scored only one touchdown.

Known for his innovation with motions and concise formations that put opposing defenses in a bind, McDaniels’ approach transformed offenses across the league. East buffalo bill Coach Sean McDermott called McDaniels’ offense “revolutionary” in Miami. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he stole some of McDaniels’ pre-snap motion in 2023.

In Miami, where he was hired in 2022, McDaniel helped turn the quarterback’s career around tua tagovailoaThe fifth draft pick in 2020 who had struggled to perform following his selection in the two seasons prior to McDaniel’s arrival.

In his first year at the helm, McDaniel’s offense ranked sixth in total yards, the first time Miami ranked in the top 10 in the category since 1995. The Dolphins led the NFL in total offense in 2023, and Tagovailoa finished with a league-leading 4,624 passing yards and the only Pro Bowl selection of his career.

The best performance of McDaniel’s tenure in Miami came when the Dolphins defeated denver broncos 70-20 in 2023 and became the first NFL team to score 70 points with over 700 yards of offense in a game. Miami tied the NFL record for most points scored.

Still, McDaniels went 0-2 in playoff contests, and his offense has declined over the past two campaigns.

McDaniels replaced Tagovailoa after a loss in Week 15 this season, and the Dolphins’ offense hasn’t improved much under the rookie. quinn evers For the last three competitions.

McDaniel will be tasked with leading Herbert to his first playoff win. The signal-caller is 0-3 in the postseason, and is having some of the worst games of his career in the playoffs.