Mike McDaniel’s next NFL job can have important ramifications for what the Bengals need to do next
The latest offensive coordinator hiring impacts the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is set to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ next offensive coordinator, and the domino effect could impact the Cincinnati Bengals.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter, McDaniel, “barring a change of heart,” is expected to be hired by L.A. He is still considered a candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens head-coaching jobs, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, but the Chargers are expected to lock him down.
Darlington also reports McDaniel was the top OC target for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but, “the lure of getting back to California and coaching Justin Herbert” was McDaniel’s reasoning for landing on Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay will interview Bengals OC Dan Pitcher later this week, and Brian Callahan, the likely replacement hired if Pitcher leaves, is still in the mix for the Bucs’ OC gig as well. Now that Tampa Bay’s top target is off the board, this could expedite its hiring process, and Cincinnati may soon learn if a new (or familiar) OC is needed.
Buccaneers are closer to making things very simple for the Bengals
Pitcher, who’s been Cincy’s OC since 2024, has not received any interview requests outside of the Cleveland Browns to become their new head coach. The Bengals could not block that interview he had with Cleveland, but they can prevent him from pursuing a new OC job elsewhere as it would be a lateral move.
Taylor granting Pitcher to interview with the Bucs changes things entirely, as he can now win any of the remaining OC gigs if given the chance. Tampa Bay is the only club that’s been reported to successfully request an interview.
It’s far from a given Pitcher will be able to win that job over Callahan, and a handful of other candidates including former Atlanta Falcons OC Zac Robinson, and former Stanford HC David Shaw. The Bucs did interview Pitcher for their OC job back in 2023, but for this year, he’s the newest candidate of the bunch, and he would become a full-time play-caller for the first time unlike the aforementioned other candidates specifically.
Callahan could win the job, and the Bengals would almost certainly deny other teams from even interviewing Pitcher as an OC candidate. Callahan is Cincy’s expected backup plan if Pitcher leaves, so the club won’t risk losing both. If Pitcher leaves, it will be in a reality in which Callahan is still available to re-hire. Callahan spent five seasons (2019-23) as OC for the Bengals. He took a promotion to be the Tennessee Titans HC in 2024, and was fired in the middle of his second season.
Callahan was also in the running to be Chargers OC, so McDaniel’s decision does somewhat limit his options. An ensuing decision from Tampa Bay should make things even clearer for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals fans should prepare for a familiar face to return if Dan Pitcher takes another offensive coordinator job
There won’t be an extensive search if the Bengals need to hire a new offensive coordinator.
