Mike McDaniel picked the Los Angeles Chargers, and he did it for one simple, undeniable reason: Justin Herbert. The former Miami Dolphins head coach, who had four seasons fizzle out on South Beach, was hot commodity this offseason, pursued by multiple teams for both head coaching and offensive coordinator gigs. But McDaniel, known for his innovative playcalling, chose the Bolts because Herbert brings a vast array of skills, a stark contrast to his former quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. That’s a bold statement coming from a coach whose reputation precedes him.
McDaniel’s Crossroads Moment With Elite Talent
McDaniel is a coach who’s logged 20 years in the NFL, and he says all that time prepared him for this exact moment: coaching the most talented quarterback he’s ever seen. He put it pretty plainly after a training camp practice: “It’s as simple as I’m not sure there are many players in my entire career that are more talented to play the quarterback position than Justin.” That’s high praise, and it frames McDaniel’s entire philosophy around Herbert. He spent years building offensive systems designed to squeeze high-level play out of guys who didn’t have supreme skill sets. Think about it: when your quarterback can’t make every throw or extend every play, your coaching has to be top-tier, solving problems on the whiteboard because your players can’t always solve them on the field.
Evolution of a Play-Designer
Now, with Herbert, it’s a whole different game. McDaniel sees Herbert as the ultimate problem solver for a coach. There are certain coverages or defensive issues that pop up, and instead of McDaniel needing to scheme his way out of it, Herbert can just scramble, get the first down, and bam, problem solved. McDaniel calls it “the greatest blessing” of bouncing around NFL teams and evolving as a coach, because you get exposed to so many types of talent. He says it stops you from getting “pigeonholed.” He even gave an example: if he’d coached someone like Tom Brady early in his career, someone who was a master at pre-snap adjustments, it might have actually stunted McDaniel’s growth as a play designer. He wondered aloud, “And then, when you don’t have him, what type of coach can you be?” McDaniel admitted, “I think as a young coach, I would have really screwed it up.” He’s glad he’s getting Herbert now, after years of solving those tough problems with quarterbacks who couldn’t throw as far or bail out a poorly designed play.
McDaniel mentioned he’s maintaining discipline in installing the Chargers’ offense, making sure to focus on Herbert’s footwork and improving his ability to get the ball out quick. This is a pairing that could really explode. What does this mean for the Chargers this season? We’ll be watching to see how this incredibly talented quarterback and an innovative, experienced offensive coordinator click. It feels like something big is brewing in LA.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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