Mike McDaniel Praises Justin Herbert’s Poise and Talent

According to comments shared on an episode of the “Chris Simms Unbuttoned” podcast, McDaniel expressed his profound admiration for Herbert’s athletic and mental abilities as the team prepares for the upcoming season. When discussing his decision to join the Chargers coaching staff earlier in the year, McDaniel detailed a mental exercise he conducted while evaluating potential quarterback pairings. According to Heavy.com, the coach stated that he immediately weighed Herbert against a select few elite players on the planet within seconds of starting his evaluation.

“Okay, so this is a fun exercise. With Justin Herbert, make a list of things he can’t do. I don’t really know what that is. You’re talking about a savant athletically and mentally,” McDaniel said on the podcast, as reported by Heavy.com. McDaniel officially joined the Chargers organization on Jan. 26, 2026, just 18 days after parting ways as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. During his appearance on the podcast hosted by Chris Simms and NBC Sports NFL Draft analyst Connor Rogers, McDaniel compared the unique experience of having a quarterback who stands out as the undisputed best player on the roster. Drawing a parallel to his time working with Matt Ryan on the Atlanta Falcons during their Super Bowl LI era, McDaniel noted how rare it is in professional football for the quarterback to carry that specific distinction. He remarked that working alongside Herbert feels nearly illicit due to the sheer ease with which the quarterback operates.

“I just hadn’t operated in professional football with the assumption that the quarterback was the best player,” McDaniel said, according to Heavy.com. “At this point, to be on the team where the best player being the QB, it’s extremely unique, and exciting, and I feel like I’m doing something illegal each day at practice because it doesn’t make any sense.”

Tinkering With Footwork and Quick Releases

On the field, McDaniel has already begun fine-tuning the offense to maximize Herbert’s skill set as the star quarterback enters his seventh NFL season and works with his fifth offensive coordinator. According to the Los Angeles Times, the coaching staff has tweaked Herbert’s footwork out of the shotgun formation to help him release the football a fraction of a second earlier.

This adjustment aims to give receivers more space to turn up the field and increase yards-after-catch numbers while simultaneously neutralizing heavy pass rushes. Herbert noted that getting the ball out quickly remains one of the most effective ways to disrupt opposing defenses.

“If you’re getting the ball out quickly, there’s really nothing they can do about it,” Herbert told the Los Angeles Times. “You’ve got to find a way to slow them down, and I think that’s just [McDaniel’s] way of taking them out of the game.”

The offensive adjustments also require heightened concentration from pass-catchers. McDaniel has warned targets that the ball may arrive before they even turn their heads, pushing the offense toward a faster, more trusting rhythm. Herbert acknowledged that he is learning to lean less solely on his arm strength and more on throwing precisely to predetermined spots.

“In years past, you rely on your arm strength to put the ball exactly where you need to,” Herbert explained to the Los Angeles Times, “instead of trusting it and just throwing it to a spot and letting them go and get it.”

Decision to Join the Chargers Coaching Staff

The partnership between McDaniel and Herbert solidified following a pivotal morning meeting in January. After running through his mental ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks, McDaniel met with head coach Jim Harbaugh and John Spanos over breakfast.

The conversation quickly convinced the veteran coach that Los Angeles was the optimal destination for his career next steps. According to Heavy.com reporting, McDaniel recalled calling contacts elsewhere to cancel upcoming meetings as soon as that breakfast concluded.

“In the morning, I met with Jim and John Spanos, and it was in that breakfast, through conversation I was like, let me call Cleveland real quick. I need to cancel some of the stuff I have upcoming because this is definitely the place I need to be,” McDaniel said.