Mike McDaniel didn’t want to stay in the AFC East.

New Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel had a fascinating reason for removing himself from the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching search.

Last week, the Buffalo Bills stunned the NFL by firing Sean McDermott after their heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round. They interviewed former Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers for the vacancy, but he recently removed himself from consideration.

A week ago, news emerged that the Los Angeles Chargers would hire McDaniel as their offensive coordinator. On Monday, the AFC West club finally confirmed that McDaniel is LA-bound:

McDaniel had an interview lined up for the Bills’ HC vacancy last week, but canceled it before being named the new Chargers’ offensive coordinator.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, word is that the ex-Miami Dolphins head coach “may have felt a little uneasy about interviewing for the Bills’ job so soon after taking the Chargers’ OC job.”

McDaniel replaces Greg Roman, whom Jim Harbaugh fired after the Chargers’ Wild Card Round loss to the New England Patriots. As for the Bills, the difficult search to find McDermott’s replacement continues.

Mike McDaniel Should Re-Emerge As A Top Head Coaching Candidate In 2027

Mike McDaniel (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

McDaniel has cemented himself as one of the best young, offensive-minded coaches in the game. Say what you want about the end of his tenure in Miami, but he was the first coach in over two decades to lead the long-struggling franchise to multiple appearances.

Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history and inconsistent production made it hard for McDaniel to get the most out of his offense.

Fortunately, he goes to an LA team with an elite quarterback (Justin Herbert), a rock-solid offensive line (Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will be healthy next year) and a deep set of skill position players (Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston).

If McDaniel makes the most of a star-studded LA offense, he’ll immediately re-emerge as a top candidate in the 2027 HC hiring cycle. He had some success on a mediocre Miami team, now we get to see what he can do on one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.