A lot of people viewed the Los Angeles Chargers as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the offseason. After two straight playoff appearances under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the addition of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator was supposed to help take the team to the next level.
Instead, the Chargers are now 0-6, and things have gone completely off the rails. As a result, some fans are starting to wonder whether their prized coaching hire could be on his way out, especially after Harbaugh’s latest comments.
Fans Question Mike McDaniel’s Future After Jim Harbaugh’s Latest Comments
Rather than taking a step forward, the Chargers have regressed in several areas. Through six weeks, their offense ranks dead last in the league with a PFN Offense Impact Score of 66.9. Quarterback Justin Herbert hasn’t fared much better, ranking No. 34 with a PFN QB Impact Score of 59.6.
Much of the blame for the team’s winless start has fallen on McDaniel. Instead of helping transform the offense, his arrival has coincided with a unit that has struggled to find its footing.
After the Chargers’ Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Noah Furtado of The Athletic asked Harbaugh about the team’s future, specifically its offensive play calling and whether McDaniel would continue handling those duties.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh responded. “I feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches and our fans. And (the offense) needs to be addressed.”
Fans were quick to read between the lines, with one suggesting Herbert could be the reason McDaniel gets fired. “Herbert getting McDaniel fired,” they wrote.
“Classic ‘he’s about to be fired’ Harbaugh speech,” another remarked.
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For many fans, a change was overdue. One fan called on the team to “Do something, anything. It’s only getting worse,” writing in all caps.
Another fan believed the franchise would only make major changes if the team lost the rest of its games this season. “They need to lose out,” they wrote.
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However, others felt Harbaugh deserved some of the blame, too. After parting ways with Greg Roman in the offseason, another change at offensive coordinator just months later wouldn’t fall solely on McDaniel.
“Firing his second coordinator within months and he still has a job somehow,”one fan wondered. “Jim is a problem and needs to be canned.”
Another fan looked back at the team’s previous setup, arguing, “They shouldn’t have fired (Greg) Roman.”
It remains to be seen whether the Chargers pull the plug on McDaniel just six games into his tenure. The early results have been rough, and something clearly needs to change.
With a playoff berth looking increasingly unlikely, the Chargers will need to find a way to finish the season strong and carry some momentum into 2027.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.