While one team in Los Angeles is getting all the recognition throughout the NFL, another is gearing up for what they believe will be a season to watch on their front at SoFi Stadium.
The Los Angeles Chargers sharing a home with the Los Angeles Rams might be hard if you’re battling for headlines, but this team has the chance to be just as explosive in 2026.
Why? Mike McDaniel joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff in L.A. as the team’s new offensive coordinator, and he hasn’t shied away from his feelings about his quarterback, Justin Herbert, in the slightest throughout training camp. Simply put, he’s obsessed with what Herbert can do, to the point where he’s expected to be opening up previously locked plays in his explosive scheme.
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Former Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman has faith his old squad will be back in the playoffs this season, and McDaniel will be a major reason why they could be contending far beyond just representing the AFC come Wild Card weekend.
“I think Mike McDaniel has made the best decision of his career,” Merriman told OutKick in a recent interview. “That’s even outside of leaving the San Francisco 49ers. I think they had something fun, an explosive offense at one time with [Jaylen] Waddle, Tyreek Hill and things like that out in Miami. But he had an opportunity to get a head coaching job at a couple of places, and he didn’t feel it was right.
“So, what happens is you take the best position that puts you back in the driver’s seat after this next year or two so you can go take the job you want.”
When McDaniel joined the Chargers, he said he was “geeked” to work with Herbert, whom he believes “hasn’t neared the ceiling to what he’s capable of.” That’s saying something considering Herbert has thrown for 5,000 yards in his career, and has proven to be among the top talents in the NFL at quarterback.
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But McDaniel’s words are something that has Chargers fans geeked, too, especially if there’s an extra gear he could unlock with the former first-round pick.
“Justin Herbert had to be the biggest influence of going there, because now you have an explosive quarterback,” Merriman added. “He’s an explosive offensive coordinator, so the deep balls down the field, we’ve already seen Quentin Johnston down the field – he’s explosive. You’ve got Ladd McConkey who can work the middle of the field and get open in shorter routes. You have a hell of a running back that comes back healthy this year. …They have an explosive opportunity to win.”
Merriman even said that McDaniel joining Harbaugh was interesting at first considering their “quirky” nature in terms of how they coach. But it’s been a seamless transition thus far, though Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals will be the true indicator on just how in sync Harbaugh, McDaniel, Herbert and the rest of the team are.
However, no matter how great the Chargers are in the regular season, a dark cloud hangs over the head of the team, especially Herbert, as he has yet to win a playoff game since entering the NFL.
Merriman was very impressed L.A. was even able to reach the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the AFC last season considering key injuries to players like tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, linebacker Khalil Mack, rookie running back Omarion Hampton and more. But Herbert seemed to will the team there, while the defense stepped up big time in key moments down the stretch.
The New England Patriots, though, won 16-3 on Wild Card weekend and Herbert suffered his third career playoff loss. It’s something that has to change for the Chargers, but Merriman has an optimistic mindset it will this season.
“Justin Herbert’s going to have that dark cloud over him until he gets deep into the playoffs, right? If he wasn’t so talented, I don’t think the expectations would still be so high. But he has all the tools to do it,” he said.
“He’s tough as nails. He had that hand [injury], and he battled through it. I just have so much respect for Justin Herbert.”
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It will be a daunting road for the Chargers to reach the playoffs in general this season despite having an easier start with the Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders meeting them at home. The Chargers have arguably the toughest schedule in the league facing stretches that include AFC West foes like the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs twice, while having to travel to the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. They’ll also have to face those Rams in a SoFi Stadium battle on Nov. 1.
But if there was ever a time to prove McDaniel’s offensive scheme is what was needed to change things for the Chargers, this is the ultimate test for a team and fan base begging to make a run at the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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