What We Know About Mike McDaniel's Future as Chargers OC

Jim Harbaugh confirmed Mike McDaniel will keep calling plays for the Los Angeles Chargers despite an 0-7 start, but the head coach declined to specify what is wrong with the NFL's lowest-scoring offense, according to the New York Post.

The comments came after a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Chargers' second straight game without a touchdown.

What did Harbaugh say about the offense's issues?

Harbaugh opened his postgame press conference by saying, "We're aware of what the issues are, and we're the only ones that can fix them," the Post reported. When a reporter followed up by asking whether he is in fact aware of what the issues are, Harbaugh responded by summarizing the game instead of answering directly, per the outlet's account of the exchange.

Asked again later whether he could address the specific problems, Harbaugh said, "Yes, I'm not gonna address anything; I'm focused on this game and that's my focus," according to the Post.

"We're aware of what the issues are, and we're the only ones that can fix them." — Jim Harbaugh, Chargers head coach

Will Mike McDaniel keep calling plays?

Yes. When asked directly, "Is Mike going to continue to call plays, Jim?" Harbaugh answered, "Uh, yes," and declined to elaborate further, the Post reported. Pressed on why the team is sticking with McDaniel given the last seven games, Harbaugh said, "Yeah, our motivation is, a dedication to getting it changed, getting it fixed," according to the outlet.

When reporters continued pushing for specifics, Harbaugh closed the line of questioning by saying, "You've asked, and I think I've answered the question, so," the Post reported. Harbaugh told reporters he remains committed to identifying what happened in Sunday's loss and to maintaining belief among the players, per the Post's account.

How bad has the Chargers offense been through seven games?

By the numbers, per the New York Post:

• 0-7 — the Chargers' record entering November.
• 15 points per game — the team's scoring average, the lowest mark in the NFL.
• 24-9 — the final score of Sunday's loss to the Rams.
• 2 — consecutive games without an offensive touchdown.

The Post also reported the Chargers are tied with the Cleveland Browns among teams struggling to find the end zone, part of a broader five-way tie referenced in the outlet's coverage of the NFL's lowest-scoring offenses.

What happened in the loss to the Rams?

Los Angeles scored no touchdowns against the Rams on Sunday, settling for field goals in a 24-9 defeat, according to the Post. Quarterback Justin Herbert lost a fumble in the third quarter, an image the outlet highlighted in its coverage of the game. The result extended the Chargers' losing streak to seven games and left the team's playoff hopes, in the Post's words, "all but an afterthought."

What to watch next

• Whether McDaniel's play-calling changes in upcoming games despite Harbaugh's public commitment to the role.
• Whether the Chargers find a touchdown in their next outing after back-to-back scoreless performances through the air and on the ground.
• Whether Harbaugh offers more specific answers about the offense's problems in future press conferences, given his repeated refusal to detail them this week.
• Whether the team's scoring average moves off the bottom of the NFL rankings, where it currently sits at 15 points per game, per the Post.

Glossary

Offensive coordinator — the assistant coach responsible for designing and overseeing a team's offensive scheme, often serving as the primary play-caller during games.

Play-caller — the coach who selects specific plays in real time during a game; for the Chargers, Harbaugh confirmed this remains McDaniel, according to the Post.

The Chargers' next steps on offense remain unclear beyond Harbaugh's stated intent to keep the current coaching structure in place. The team has not announced any changes to its coaching staff following the loss to the Rams, based on the available reporting.

For the full exchange between Harbaugh and reporters, including the embedded video of the press conference, see the New York Post's original report.