The Los Angeles Chargers are still searching for their first win of the season, sitting at a brutal 0-6 record and holding the unenviable title of the NFL’s last remaining winless team. You’d think that kind of start would spark some desperate changes, but coming out of their Week 7 bye, head coach Jim Harbaugh just told reporters that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is absolutely staying put.
The McDaniel Gamble That Hasn’t Paid Off for Herbert
McDaniel is in his first year as the Chargers’ OC, stepping into the role after four seasons as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, where he posted a 35-33 record. The guy’s reputation precedes him, too: he’s widely respected as an “offensive innovator” from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. The expectation was crystal clear, wasn’t it? McDaniel was supposed to be the guy to unlock Justin Herbert’s next level.
Instead, we’ve seen a noticeable regression from the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. This wasn’t on anyone’s 2026 NFL bingo card, especially considering McDaniel’s track record with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, where the Dolphins finished 11th and then second in the league in points per game in his first two seasons. Even with Tua’s injury issues and turnovers later on, McDaniel kept Miami competitive, even after a 1-6 start last season. His “schematic ingenuity” was a major draw, and it felt like a perfect fit for Herbert, who’s always teased greatness but hadn’t quite delivered in the postseason.
Back in January, McDaniel himself was effusive about Herbert, stating the now-28-year-old hadn’t even neared his ceiling. He talked about finding “easier completions” for Herbert and installing “low-cost, high-reward plays” to protect him, so Herbert wouldn’t always have to play superhero. After six games, though, it’s a totally different story.
Herbert’s Numbers Are Flat-Out Ugly, and the O-Line Isn’t Helping
Those promises of easier completions and protection? They haven’t materialized. Herbert’s completion rate this season is a shocking 59.4%. That’s not just bad, it’s by far the worst of his entire career and currently ranks him 28th among qualifying passers. For perspective, Herbert never dipped below 65% in any of his previous six seasons.
And about keeping him protected? Forget about it. Herbert has already been sacked 21 times this season, which ties him for the third most of any quarterback in the league. Next Gen Stats also shows he’s facing the fifth-highest pressure rate at a brutal 42.1%. You simply can’t expect a QB to thrive when he’s constantly under that kind of heat.
Now, it’s important to acknowledge the injury bug has absolutely ravaged the Chargers’ offensive line. Before the season even kicked off, center Tyler Biadasz landed on injured reserve with an ACL injury and other knee damage from a training camp practice. Then, earlier this month, left tackle Rashawn Slater went on IR after ankle surgery following a Week 4 loss to our very own Seattle Seahawks. These injuries, among others, have clearly dealt McDaniel a terrible hand, but the results on the field speak for themselves.
The Chargers are 0-6. Their supposed offensive innovator is staying put. And their star quarterback is looking like a shell of his former self. It’s a dire situation in Los Angeles, and the path forward looks incredibly murky for the winless squad.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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