Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will begin calling plays from the coaching booth starting with the team's Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans, a move born of desperation as the Chargers sit 0-7 and rank last in the NFL in scoring.
McDaniel told reporters Thursday that he discussed the change with head coach Jim Harbaugh, hoping a different vantage point will help him see adjustments and communicate with position coaches between series. "I'm being very open-minded with all things. Not trying to prove or justify anything that ultimately leads to underwhelming results," McDaniel said.
Offensive struggles by the numbers
The Chargers offense has been historically poor in 2026. They average 14.1 points per game (last in the NFL), 288.3 total yards per game (28th), and rank 30th in yards per play. Los Angeles has committed 17 turnovers, also the most in the league, and has gone 27 consecutive drives without a touchdown since Week 5 against the Denver Broncos.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has regressed sharply under McDaniel, completing 61.8% of his passes for 1,398 yards with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions through seven games. Herbert has thrown six turnovers and zero touchdowns in the fourth quarter this season.
The Texans defense has allowed three 30-point games and three 300-yard passers so far in 2026, offering a potential opportunity for the Chargers to show improvement. If the offense continues to struggle, speculation grows that McDaniel could be fired before the team's Week 10 Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens.
