A trio of big-name Chargers were in the spotlight Wednesday in Indianapolis.

With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine up and running, a Chargers contingent of General Manager Joe Hortiz, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel joined The Pat McAfee Show live from Lucas Oil Stadium.

While Hortiz spoke to the media on Tuesday and touched on McDaniel's hiring, Wednesday marked the first time the Harbaugh has publicly weighed in on the move.

And there is zero doubt about how fired up Harbaugh is to have McDaniel in the building.

"Great, just learning," Harbaugh said. "I'm really leaning on how Mike sees the game. It's creative, it puts defenses in a conflict. Kind of like our players, a lot of excitement to learn everything that Mike knows.

"That's really the main thing I keep leaning into," Harbaugh added.

The knowledge of the game has stuck out in a big way for the Chargers head coach.

"I'm leaning into what he knows about football," Harbaugh said. "That's what I'm most excited about."

McDaniel had his own praise for what's been his first month with the Chargers.

The 42-year-old has thoroughly enjoyed working with Harbaugh and the Bolts throughout this offseason process, even summing it up in a few words.

"Awesome," McDaniel said. "Period."

He then elaborated.

"I couldn't ask for more. It's been awesome to join what they're trying to do," McDaniel said. "There's a lot of overlap in belief. We're coming to work every day enthused, trying to chase the same outcome.

"I'm invigorated," McDaniel added. "I'm juiced up."

McDaniel even borrowed a phrase from the head coach that has rubbed off on him since he's arrived.

"I'm firmly aware nobody has it better than us," McDaniel said. "I'm living that way every day."

Harbaugh saw firsthand last season the type of offensive mind that McDaniel is, which makes it unsurprising how enthusiastic he is to have him on the staff now.

There's a lot to be excited about heading into next season.

"Just the respect I have for Mike, his offense, we played him this year," Harbaugh said. "He got us on a look that nobody had gotten us yet. Made us go back and change it. Just things like that. I love the emphasis on the run game, play action pass. The ability to get first downs and score points.

Harbaugh added: "I felt like we needed a fresh start and fresh start we got."

Harbaugh, by the way, ended the segment on a high note when he threw a football through a hole to earn $100,000 for charity.

Here are two other topics the trio touched on in Indianapolis:

Fired up for Herbert

Of course, the Offensive Coordinator was also asked about his new quarterback.

McDaniel had nothing but great things to say about Justin Herbert at his introductory press conference last month and it was much of the same on Wednesday.

He knows very well all the things Herbert is capable of and is keyed in on making sure he could do everything in his power to help him.

"I look at a player that has shown he can do everything on a football field," McDaniel said. "Football is an 11-person game that there's a lot that coaches have to offer to help, assist a player. I feel very fortunate to coach a player of skillset."

It's a task he isn't taking lightly as Herbert enters Year 7.

"I have high ambitions that meets him where he's at and for what he needs to do to take the next step in his career," McDaniel said.

And for Hortiz, he is confident McDaniel will be able to achieve that given the way he's able to call an offense to its strengths.

"I think the great thing about Mike is when he came in the first night he was in there, he was talking about he did things in Miami because that's who he had on the team," Hortiz said. "His adaptability and his creativity. That gets you fired up."

Free agency looms

The Chargers, of course, have been off and busy since arriving in Indianapolis earlier this week.

The team have started meetings with prospects while on-field workouts are slated to begin on Thursday and the rest of the week.

It's an important week no doubt, as the Chargers general manager talked about the mindset heading into the next couple of days.

"Yeah, we're looking at all positions," Hortiz said. "Definitely want to sure up the offensive line, we've got some holes there, Bradley Bozeman retired, and we got some free agents on the other line.

"Definitely have to add to it," Hortiz added. "Excited about the week, excited to be with coach again and adding Mike it's awesome."

The Bolts are currently projected to have around $82 million in cap space with free agency a couple of weeks away and also have five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including their own pick in each of the first four rounds.

Now two seasons down for Hortiz and Harbaugh, the Chargers Head Coach said the goal is to continue moving forward towards the next step.

"Good, but the thing that's not good is we're not playing our best football at the end of the season, in those playoffs," Harbaugh said. "That focus, that better and then best in the elimination games."