McDaniel explains why he picked the Chargers
Mike McDaniel discusses the dynamic he has with Jim Harbaugh and breaks down why he decided to become the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Video Transcript
Did you know that the internet and social media was gonna love the marriage of you and Jim Harbaugh so much?
And then just after getting to know him a little bit, you know, where are you guys similar and different so far?
No, I didn't.
You know, it's much like I don't really anticipate people's, infatuation with anything that's perceived weird that I do.
It's, for me, it's pretty normal.
And, you know, I, I guess, I, I can see similarities between Jim and I where people are pretty, interested in the, the, uniqueness and, and, off, off-brand stuff that we kind of bring to the table.
And so, it, it's, prob- pr- that being said, it's probably more entertaining than people would forecast e- even just because it's, guys just being themselves every day, without, without, blink- blinking or batting an eye.
So I've always appreciated that about Jim, you know, a, a, a person that's unique to himself that's not trying to copy/paste anyone else.
So, I didn't know it was gonna be, as interesting to people, but it doesn't surprise me now that I'm in it.
Mike, it was no secret there was plenty of teams interested in you this off-season.
What made you pick the Chargers?
Well, no, I, I think it was a unique, experience for me, specifically this off-season just because I, I'd gone, you know, one of the reasons I, I've known Chris for so long, I've, I, I went 15 years in the National Football League with one person hiring me and that's it, and that's Kyle Shanahan.
So my first interview really, was as a head coach for the Dolphins.
So getting fired there and having, some opportunities was new, new to me.
So what I thought was important was that I was gonna take every, you know, I d- I didn't feel entitled to, to any, any other club's interest.
So when they, they extended an interest, I, I operated as though it was one, I had one opportunity and that was it at each stop.
So fully invested into that and pictured myself, in, in the situation and doing that.
I'm not sure if you guys remember, but I think, my, my meeting with the Chargers was scheduled for a Monday a week into me traveling around the country, to going, going to different teams.
So I hadn't thought about the Chargers really until the flight to LA.
And I started going through in my mind, a, a, this was a unique exercise.
I was thinking to myself, all right, out of all What if I had the choice to coach, all 32 quarterbacks?
Let me rank, let me rank who I'd wanna coach.
And it was like 10 seconds in- into the thought where I was now in, I was immediately debating, Justin Herbert with like two other guys as out of anyone that I could coach on the planet, a guy that I'd be interested in doing that with.
So, it was already off to a g- good start.
Then I got into the building, or I got, met with Joe and Jim, that evening.
Then, in the morning I, I met with Jim and, John Spanos and it was in that breakfast that I, through conversation I was like, "You know what?
Let me, let me call Cleveland real quick.
I need to cancel some of the stuff that I have upcoming, because this, this is definitely the place I need to be."
So, that was kind of the story.
I didn't, it, it was unique for me, but something I was very grateful for and, very, very happy that we ended up in this situation.
