Chargers' Mike McDaniel shares heartfelt message about Kyle Shanahan

The Chargers are set to take on the 49ers on Tuesday for a joint practice. The Chargers and 49ers are set to meet this weekend for their second preseason game of 2026. Beyond the in-state rivalry, the matchup has an intriguing connection to Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. After Monday's practice, McDaniel spoke about the impact 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has had on his career. "For years, he was the only guy that would hire me and give me a job in the NFL," McDaniel said. "Obviously I'm very indebted to him and the whole organization. "It will be a nice little asterisk of excitement to have those familiar coaches on the field, competing and going against a really good team more than anything…that's gonna be the best part." Shanahan provided McDaniel with his first shot at a top-ranked coaching position in 2021. Prior to becoming the 49ers' offensive coordinator, McDaniel served as the run game specialist and run game coordinator for his first four years in the Bay Area. In McDaniel's first and only season as an offensive coordinator for the 49ers, he led San Francisco to the seventh-ranked total offense and fifth in rushing offense. After doing his part to lead the 49ers to an elite offense, the Dolphins jumped at the opportunity to name him head coach, and he has been at the helm for the past four seasons. Now, McDaniel is expected to take the Chargers' offense to a whole new level with Justin Herbert as the signal-caller. The 43-year-old coordinator has plenty of talent to work with, including a revamped offensive line, a deep running back room and a wide receiver corps that could emerge as one of the NFL's best. This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' Mike McDaniel shares heartfelt message about Kyle Shanahan