Mike McDaniel was officially introduced as the new offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday, and he made a brutally honest comment about his new employers.
McDaniel coached against the Chargers last season when they beat his Miami Dolphins 29-27 in Week 6. The Charger offense was excellent that day, with quarterback Justin Herbert throwing for 264 yards and wide receiver Ladd McConkey catching seven passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
McDaniel mentioned that game on Tuesday, and admitted that he was guilty of an old adage.
“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I guess,” McDaniel conceded.
New #Chargers OC Mike McDaniel, while giving a long answer on how the Chargers beat his #Dolphins this past season:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 27, 2026
“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I guess.” https://t.co/lLjaCmdmaH pic.twitter.com/UJx9eaPJmU
McDaniel, of course, was fired by the Dolphins, so he had little choice but to join ’em in this case. Herbert and McConkey are two figures who should certainly benefit from his presence, though.
Though he got a few looks as a head coach, McDaniel was hotly pursued as an offensive coordinator candidate by a number of teams. The Chargers were the ones that successfully lured him in, and he will be tasked with adding a new layer to the team’s offense in 2026.
