Mike McDaniel is sounding more like Jim Harbaugh by the day.
In Harbaugh’s two seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, the 62-year-old has propped up quarterback Justin Herbert as if he were the second coming of Joe Montana. McDaniel followed in his boss’ lead while speaking to reporters on Monday.
McDaniel, in his first year as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator, gushed about the progress Herbert has made in their first training camp together.
“He’s been everything that I’d hoped and more in that regard,” McDaniel said via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “We’re just finding different things to add to his game each and every day to put the best foot forward in Week 1.”
McDaniel added that he believed he could get “Year 2 results in Year 1” with Herbert.
McDaniel previously coached a Miami Dolphins offense led by Tua Tagovailoa into one of the best units in the NFL. While Justin’s playoff resume is not much better than Tua’s thus far, Herbert’s raw talent has consistently left McDaniel stunned from the sidelines throughout training camp.
This is awesome: Chargers OC Mike McDaniel was left SPEECHLESS watching QB Justin Herbert complete a deep pass at practice.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 13, 2026
"Wow! That's f**ked up! What?! What?!"
Daniel was absolutely STUNNED 😭😭pic.twitter.com/UxZsXtFNTp
But the comments and viral videos mean next to nothing if the Chargers’ offense doesn’t live up to the hype of McDaniel’s arrival.
