The Chargers recently hired two new coordinators — and they might be some of the best hirings of the 2026 coaching cycle.
The team officially announced Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator and Chris O’Leary as Defensive Coordinator last week.
With McDaniel, his resumé speaks for itself.
The offensive playcaller checks all the boxes, ranking No. 8 in the NFL in both passing offense and total offense over his four-year tenure in Miami and bringing over a lot of excitement of what the Bolts offense could be moving forward.
It's why CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani believes this was a home run hire, giving it an 'A+ grade', the highest mark this offseason.
Dajani wrote:
Mike McDaniel was the belle of the ball in this year's offensive coordinator cycle. Say what you want about McDaniel as a lead man, but he could be one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL right away for the Chargers…
Whether running the ball or throwing it, McDaniel knows how to create explosive plays. In fact, he's registered the seventh-most team yards per play (5.78) among head coaches in the Super Bowl era.
Imagine what he's going to be able to do with Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton.
McDaniel's list of impressive work on offense runs long.
Look no further than the 2023 season where he helped lead an offense that led the league total offense (401.3 net yards per game) and passing offense (265.5 net passing yards per game) while ranking No. 2 in scoring offense (29.2).
There's no telling what he could do on offense around Herbert.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. Take a look at the best photos of McDaniel through the years.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
The Chargers have named Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
On the defensive side of the ball, the hiring of O'Leary is one that also brings a ton of excitement for what it could look like.
He's had an impact everywhere he's gone, including last year as the defensive playcaller at Western Michigan.
CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo was fired up about the hire, giving it an 'A- grade'.
DeArdo wrote:
Another exceptional hire for Jim Harbaugh, who brings O'Leary back to Los Angeles after he spent the 2025 season turning Western Michigan's defense into one of the nation's best units.
O'Leary, who spent the 2024 season as the Chargers' safeties coach, presided over a Western Michigan defense that finished ninth in the FBS in scoring (17.4 points per game) and 19th in total net yards allowed per game (305.5). That success helped the Broncos go 10-4 en route to the program's fourth conference title.
The 34-year-old O'Leary also had a successful six-year run at Notre Dame prior to coming to Los Angeles in 2024. That season, the Chargers led the NFL in scoring defense after allowing opponents to score on just 45% of their trips inside L.A.'s 20-yard line. Under O'Leary's watch, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod and second All-Pro selection.
The Chargers on Wednesday agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Chris O'Leary to become their Defensive Coordinator.
