Overview
- McDaniel confirmed Thursday he will move from the sideline into the coaches’ booth to call plays for the Week 9 game, a change the team announced as an immediate tactical adjustment.
- The move follows a historically poor start: the Chargers are 0-7, have gone 27 straight drives without an offensive touchdown, rank last in points per game, and have the NFL-high turnover total cited in coverage.
- Justin Herbert has struggled under the new scheme this season, throwing 10 interceptions through seven games, and his performance is a central reason the offense has underperformed.
- Head coach Jim Harbaugh kept McDaniel as the play-caller after a bye-week review and approved the booth shift, but analysts and outlets say McDaniel is on a hot seat and could be dismissed if results do not improve.
- McDaniel points to precedent for the change — he last called plays from the booth with the 49ers in 2021 — and the immediate things to watch are red-zone scoring, turnovers, and whether the booth view improves in-game adjustments or prompts further staff moves.