Chargers' Mike McDaniel Addresses Hot Seat Buzz Amid Offensive Struggles, 0-6 Start to NFL Season

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel discussed his job security as the team currently sits at 0-6 to begin the 2026 season.

"You're new on the team, and the team's not doing as well as they've done in the past," McDaniel told reporters Thursday, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "So that's part of the part of, you know — you can't have your cake and eat it, too. 
An incredibly fun job, a ton of responsibility, and in this league, you have to produce results or there's gonna be heat. So I don't expect anything else."

"What I spend my time on, instead of thinking about what's being said, I think my time is best used to focus on the opponent, focus on us, and find ways that we can improve and nothing else," he added. "So I really don't have any — everything's an opportunity cost. If I'm spending time worried about things that I would assume would occur, that is an absolute waste of time. So, I try to stay out of that way."

The Chargers finished with identical 11-6 records in 2024 and 2025, making consecutive playoff appearances led by a stout defense as well as an offense that was spearheaded by the heroics of quarterback Justin Herbert.

While Jesse Minter left his role as Los Angeles' defensive coordinator to become head coach of the Baltimore Ravens at the end of last season, the Chargers' offense was expected to improve following the addition of McDaniel.

McDaniel was fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins after posting a 35-33 record across four seasons in the position, including a 7-10 mark in 2025.

His tenure as Miami's head coach and offensive play-caller featured some high points, such as a 2023 campaign in which the Dolphins owned the NFL's No. 2 scoring offense by averaging 29.2 points per game.

It's also worth noting that he previously thrived as an offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, helping San Francisco rank No. 7 among all teams by averaging 375.7 total yards per game.

The Chargers' offense has struggled mightily this season, however.

Los Angeles is recording a mere 15.0 points on a weekly basis, the worst mark in the league. The Chargers have scored at least 18 points in just one of their six games this year.

The addition of McDaniel also hasn't helped Herbert, as the two-time Pro Bowler is currently completing a career-low 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,141 yards and five touchdowns compared to eight interceptions.

Following a Week 7 bye, the Chargers will attempt to put their slow start behind them as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. ET.