Jim Harbaugh’s entire sales pitch to land Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator for the 2026 season boiled down to two simple words: Justin Herbert. The Chargers head coach laid it all out on the Herd with Colin Cowherd Show, making it crystal clear that his own excitement about Herbert was the driving force behind bringing McDaniel aboard. Harbaugh said it himself, that same electrifying feeling about Herbert is what brought him to Los Angeles, and it’s what he used to convince one of the most sought-after offensive minds in the league to join his staff.
Harbaugh’s Big Bet on Herbert and McDaniel’s Early Impact
Harbaugh didn’t mince words, telling Cowherd that Herbert was the cornerstone of his recruitment efforts. He even acknowledged that in this past hiring cycle, there were a ton of “highly qualified coaches,” but McDaniel was “at the top of the list.” That’s high praise for a guy they’re expecting to completely overhaul an offense that’s been, let’s be real, pretty “dormant.” Especially when it’s mattered most in the playoffs over the last two seasons, that offense just hasn’t shown up. McDaniel’s mission is clear: change that significantly and finally get Herbert that first playoff win, something the Chargers haven’t seen in nearly a decade.
And man, through just the first week of training camp, Harbaugh is already saying McDaniel’s addition has been even “better than he thought.” That’s a strong start. McDaniel has been pushing Herbert hard in practice, and he’s absolutely loving how the signal-caller has responded. McDaniel specifically praised Herbert, saying, “He hasn’t strayed. What you’re asking a quarterback to do is not succumb to the compass of results. It’s the process of how we’re doing things, and his investment has been a full immersion into that process.” This isn’t just about winning games; it’s about fundamentally changing how they approach the game, process over everything.
Herbert’s New Perspective and the Massive Season Ahead
Herbert, for his part, is totally bought into McDaniel’s coaching philosophy. The Chargers quarterback said McDaniel’s approach has given him a “new perspective” on how to craft “efficient, explosive offensive plays.” Imagine that: pushing boundaries, testing wild new ideas, and actually learning from mistakes *during* practice. That’s a whole new level of development. Herbert clearly gets it, stressing that “The more reps, the better. In OTAs we did everything we could to master the footwork, master the offense. Now, we’re just going out there and playing fast and letting the ball fly around. And I think that’s what is important in camp, is to just go out there and play football like you’re reacting and playing in a game. And treating those reps like real game reps.”
The 2026 season isn’t just another year for Justin Herbert; it’s a massive one. All eyes are going to be on him and McDaniel. If these early indications are right, this partnership could be exactly what Herbert needs to hit that “another level” we’ve all been waiting for. It’s time for this duo to deliver, and Chargers fans are absolutely buzzing to see what happens next.
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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