5 Takeaways: Joe Hortiz Talks Mike McDaniel, Odafe Oweh & Zion Johnson at 2026 NFL Combine

The Chargers General Manager also discussed Khalil Mack and Chris O'Leary at his podium session in Indianapolis

Feb 24, 2026 at 11:03 AM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

Joe Hortiz hit the media circuit Tuesday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

The Chargers General Manager held a 15-minute podium session in Indianapolis, his first availability since a year-end presser in mid-January.

Here are five takeaways from Hortiz at the Combine:

1. Fired up about Mike McDaniel

Much of the chatter this week in Indianapolis centers around free agency and the draft.

But when you make perhaps the best coordinator hire of the entire coaching cycle, that means Mike McDaniel is a hot topic, too.

Hortiz was asked Tuesday about what's it's been like to have the new Chargers Offensive Coordinator in the building and how excited he is for McDaniel to be on staff.

"It's been fun. The whole process was a blast ... you really just got to listen to ball and philosophy," Hortiz said. "Mike is just a great person, great soul, great ideas, great energy. Brought a lot of his staff in and they bring great energy to the room.

"There's excitement about what we're going to do, and he's so excited about it. His excitement rubs off on you right away," Hortiz continued. "Really looking forward to it, we've discussed some players in free agency. He'll get more involved in the draft process now once we go through the Combine.

"I'm really looking forward to it. He's been an evaluator his whole life and he loves this part of the process," Hortiz added.

Perhaps McDaniel's biggest priority is keeping Justin Herbert healthy. The Chargers quarterback was sacked 54 times in 2025, the second-highest total in the league, and also faced a league-high 263 pressures.

Hortiz also touched on that topic on Tuesday.

Mike has got some good ideas in terms of ways to protect Justin. And then, listen, we're always going to try to help Justin," Hortiz said. "Whether that's throwing more players at all positions to help the team.

"We're going to attack the O-line, we're going to attack the defense, we're going to attack the backs and tight ends, everything," Hortiz added. "The more weapons and more players we can put around Justin, the better we protect Justin."

McDaniel's presence has signaled a shift within the organization as he's brought in some new faces to the Chargers coaching staff.

But once football activities pick up, McDaniel is also going to implement a new offensive scheme, too.

How will McDaniel's system affect how Hortiz and the front office approach personnel moves this offseason?

"Yeah, the biggest [difference] is the offensive line," Hortiz said. "We went through it in Baltimore in 2014 when we hired Gary Kubiak. We went to the wide zone.

"So, the draft process when you do that, it kind of changes how you evaluate a player in the fall versus here in February and March," Hortiz continued. "You have to understand there's going to be some players that move a little bit on your board because this guy in our old scheme may have fit better and doesn't as well now.

"Scouts can still evaluate for all positions. We've been doing it our whole career before Mike got here. This guy is more a zone-scheme fit so now that's being said in our report," Hortiz added.

Does that mean more athleticism up front?

"More range. Guys who can get to the cutoffs blocks and get out in space," Hortiz said.

Either way, Hortiz repeated the mantra that both he and Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh always want to build their team from the inside out.

"You control the line, you're going to have a good chance to win the game at the end," Hortiz said.

2. Eyes on edge group

Hortiz said last month that he'd be just fine putting heavy financial resources into the edge rusher group if that the way things shook out this offseason.

A refresher: Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are slated to be free agents while Tuli Tuipulotu is eligible for a contract extension.

Bringing Mack and Oweh back will obviously cost money while Tuipulotu's potential extension won't be cheap.

"I have no problem having a bunch of great edge rushers," Hortiz said Tuesday.

Mack put up 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 12 games while Oweh posted 7.5 sacks in 12 regular-season games with the Chargers while forming a menacing trio with Mack and Tuipulotu. Oweh then racked up 3.0 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in the Bolts playoff loss in New England.

Hortiz said Tuesday that he's hopeful to bring both back in powder blue.

"They know we want them back," Hortiz said. "I think when players go into free agency once the season ends, it takes a little bit of time but we'll keep chipping away at it and see if we can get something done with them."

Of note, while both Mack and Oweh are eligible for the franchise tag, Hortiz said he doesn't envision that option.

"I don't see us tagging anyone right now," Hortiz said.

Tuipulotu, meanwhile, had a career-best 13.0 sacks and 23 quarterbacks hits, recording three multi-sack games including a massive 4.0-sack performance in Week 4 against the Giants.

Tuipulotu racked up 49 total tackles to go along with 20 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Hortiz was asked about contract talks with the 23-year-old edge rusher.

"No, we have not begun them with Tuli yet. We have a little bit of time, kind of focus on free agency, but we want Tuli around for a long time," Hortiz said.

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3. What is Zion Johnson's market?

Offensively, the Chargers biggest name who is slated to be a free agent is Zion Johnson.

A 2022 first-round pick, the left guard played perhaps his best football in 2025. He was dependable and didn't miss an offensive snap until the Bolts rested their starters in the regular-season finale.

But Hortiz is well aware that a 26-year-old player potentially hitting free agency, especially an ascending linemen like Johnson, means there is certainly going to be plenty of suitors.

"We'll meet with his agent this week. We've talked to him already and we'll continue the dialogue," Hortiz said.

Does Hortiz have a number in mind of what Johnson's market could be? Yes.

Is that number flexible? Yes.

"Yeah, we have a range. Not just Zion, but every player, we tag a guy with a range," Hortiz said. "There's an evaluation and that's what we do. Is it a hard ceiling? No. I don't think you ever place a hard ceiling on a player.

"But you have to pay what you think a player is worth. Or somewhere near that," Hortiz added. "We'll see what happens with Zion, where the market goes, if he gets to the market. We'll stay engaged with him through the process."

Johnson is one of seven offensive linemen from the 2025 season who are slated to be free agents next month.

The rest of that group includes Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins III, Andre James, Bobby Hart, Austin Deculus and Trevor Penning.

Add in Bradley Bozeman's retirement and the interior of the offensive line will certainly be a focus for Hortiz and the front office in the coming weeks.

4. O'Leary back with the Bolts

McDaniel isn't the only new coordinator the Chargers hired this offseason.

The Bolts also reunited with Chris O'Leary, who is now the Chargers Defensive Coordinator after spending the 2024 season as the safeties coach. O'Leary was Western Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2025.

Hortiz was asked Tuesday about what stood out in O'Leary's interview?

"Well, his plan, his intelligence, his energy. We knew a lot of that from when he was here," Hortiz said. "But his preparedness for the interview. I talked to Chris even before Jesse [Minter] actually got a job. I said, 'Listen, Jesse has got nine interviews and we'd like to interview you if we can get it set up.'

"We had a chance to interview him down in Mobile [at the Senior Bowl]. Just his energy, his creativity, his ideas for going forward. Not just, 'This is what I did,' but this is what he wanted to learn. He just did a great job," Hortiz added.

O'Leary defense at Western Michigan defense ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (17.4 points per game), a mark that was also good for ninth in all the FBS.

The unit was also second in yards allowed per game (305.5) in the MAC and 19^th in the country allowing 179.9 passing yards per game.

Hortiz said O'Leary, who will be a first-time play caller in the NFL, certainly benefitted from being in that role in college.

"Anytime you gain that confidence of doing it for a year, I'm sure that will help him," Hortiz said.

"He's a great coordinator in the sense that he knows his staff makes him a great coordinator and great playcaller. He'll rely on all the guys in the room and put together something good," Hortiz added.

Hortiz later noted that O'Leary wasn't viewed as a favorite in the process, he just happened to blow the Chargers away in the interview process.

"He didn't surprise me because I knew how talented he was when he was here in 2024. But he did what I thought he would do," Hortiz said. "To say we have a favorite? No. We were looking inside and externally. We interviewed a lot of great candidates internally and externally.

"There were a number of guys to do the job but we just felt he was the best option," Hortiz added.