Mike McDaniel has quickly moved on with the Los Angeles Chargers as their new offensive coordinator under head coach Jim Harbaugh, after a rocky four-year marriage between the former head coach and Miami ended. Yet, even with that deal in sight, interest from other teams keeps pouring in, and now another franchise has thrown its hat in the ring for something bigger.

“The Bills are interviewing new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel for their head coaching job today, per source. McDaniel, of course, spent the last four years in the AFC East as Dolphins head coach. McDaniel will be Jim Harbaugh’s OC if he doesn’t land an HC job,” NFL reporter Albert Breer reported on X. 

Just a few days ago, McDaniel had reportedly declined the head coach position with the Browns and seemed committed to the Chargers. That choice suggested stability in Los Angeles. But Buffalo plays in the same AFC East division where McDaniel coached in Miami, so that familiar territory could change things.

This interview opportunity arises right after the Bills fired Sean McDermott following nine strong regular seasons. McDermott posted an impressive 98-50 record during his time there. Despite that success with Josh Allen and the team, they never broke through to the Super Bowl under him. Bills owner Terry Pegula called it hitting “the proverbial playoff wall,” saying the franchise needed a leadership shake-up to push further.

McDaniel, renowned for his creative offensive schemes, could provide the spark Allen and the offense need to finally end their playoff runs with the big win. He transformed Tua Tagovailoa’s career in Miami, helping the Dolphins make back-to-back playoff runs in 2022 and 2023.

However, hiring McDaniel might not sit well with everyone when you consider the Bills’ ultimate goal of a championship. A coach without Super Bowl experience and only two playoff appearances feels like a lateral step at best.

“The only trouble with that is the Bills mostly handled the Dolphins during McDaniels’ tenure, and switching from McDermott to him as head coach could be perceived as a step backward,” Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic noted.

That said, if McDaniel doesn’t snag the Bills’ job, his move to the Chargers looks nearly locked in. Pairing with Harbaugh could redefine his trajectory, giving him a quarterback like Justin Herbert to build around and chase titles.

Jim Harbaugh taps Mike McDaniel to break the Chargers’ playoff curse

The Chargers parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman after two underwhelming seasons marked by playoff struggles. A big factor in his dismissal mirrored Buffalo’s issue: an inability to win crucial postseason games.

LA boasted one of the league’s top defenses, but its offense repeatedly stalled when it mattered most. The offensive line crumbled, managing just 3 points in their final two games this season, and in two playoff outings under Roman, they went 0-2 with only one touchdown total.

McDaniel brings proven turnaround magic. He took Miami’s offense, ranked 22nd and 25th in points and yards in 2021, and vaulted it to 11th and 6th in those categories by 2022. That kind of offensive revival could fix the Chargers’ late-game woes with Herbert at the helm.

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For Harbaugh, this marks a major shift. Roman was his sole NFL offensive coordinator, first with the 49ers from 2011 to 14 and then the past two years in Los Angeles. 

McDaniel gets a fresh shot at a breakout under Harbaugh’s tough, winning culture. Or, if he bolts for Buffalo, he could ironically torpedo the Chargers’ plans in the worst way possible. Either path promises a lot of reports for the upcoming days.