Mike McDaniel reportedly headed to Chargers as offensive coordinator

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Jan 20, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

TAMPA, Fla. — The Harbaugh family could ruin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ plans for an offensive coordinator.

Former MiamiDolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who met with the Bucs Friday in Tampa, Fla., is expected to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator barring a change of heart, according to multiple reports.

McDaniel has informed other teams that they are out, ESPN reported. He interviewed Monday in South Florida for the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job.

The Bucs had hoped either McDaniel or former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken would call plays in Tampa Bay for quarterback Baker Mayfield next season.

Monken has interviewed twice for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching job and has said he is in no hurry to make a decision. But he said he will be offered a chance to join new New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh as their offensive coordinator.

Now, McDaniel is expected to join head coach Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers.

The Bucs are expected to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher on Wednesday. Pitcher met with Tampa Bay for the same position in 2023 but elected to remain with Cincinnati.

Like former Bucs coordinators Dave Canales, Liam Coen and Josh Grizzard, the big appeal for Pitcher will be a chance to call his own plays. That job belonged to head coach Zac Taylor with the Bengals.

The Bucs had virtual interviews with Giants interim head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach David Shaw and Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork.

____