Jim Harbaugh refused to commit to Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator after the Los Angeles Chargers sank to 0-6 with a lifeless 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. With the team heading into its bye week, Harbaugh admitted “everything” is under review — especially the offense.
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The defeat at Arrowhead Stadium marked the Chargers’ sixth straight loss since McDaniel took charge of the offense. It was their worst start since the 2000 season, when they dropped their first 11 games — a stunning collapse for a team coming off back-to-back 11-win campaigns.
Harbaugh Mum On McDaniel’s Future
Asked directly whether McDaniel will still be calling plays when the Chargers return from the bye against the Rams, Harbaugh dodged the question entirely. “We’re going to look at everything,” he said. “The job I’m doing — it starts with me. The plan is to watch this again with our offensive coaches.”
“We have to address everything, guys, and especially offensively. We’re not scoring enough points,” the head coach added. “I feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. It needs to be addressed.”
His non-answer spoke volumes. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported “growing buzz” on Sunday that the Chargers will part ways with McDaniel during the bye, with former Jets head coach and current pass-game specialist Adam Gase expected to take over the play-calling duties.
An Offense In Freefall
The numbers are grim. The Chargers have managed just 84 points across six losses and failed to score a touchdown on Sunday, with kicker Cameron Dicker accounting for all six points on two field goals.
Quarterback Justin Herbert threw his eighth interception of the season — extending his streak of at least one pick in every game — while finishing 22-of-37 for 204 yards. The offense produced only 259 total yards, and the team remains the league’s worst at protecting the ball with 13 turnovers.
McDaniel, the former Dolphins head coach, was hired in the offseason with the hope that his creative scheme would unlock Herbert’s full potential. Instead, the unit has scored 15 points per game or fewer in five of six outings, and only once has it topped 17 points all season.
Injuries Pile Up, Excuses Worn Thin
Harbaugh refused to hide behind the team’s injury list, though it is genuinely brutal. Offensive linemen Rashawn Slater, Tyler Biadasz, and Trey Pipkins are all on injured reserve, alongside tight end David Njoku and linebacker Denzel Perryman.
“I see the effort. I see the work being put into the meetings, on the practice field, and to get that to translate to the field is what’s necessary,” Harbaugh said. The bye week now becomes the most important fortnight of his Chargers tenure — one where his coordinator’s job may not survive.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
