Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel took their offensive partnership from the film room to the front row Thursday night.
The Chargers’ head coach and his new offensive coordinator sat courtside at Crypto.com Arena for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-104 win over the Dallas Mavericks, offering a glimpse of the chemistry building between two football minds as the Chargers head into a new season.
They finished their season with an 11-6 record and clinched consecutive playoff berths for the first time since 2008-09. However, their impressive run didn’t last long, as they bowed out in the Wild Card round with a 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
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Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh greats Miami Dolphins Mike McDaniel at the game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
Harbaugh wasted no time retooling the offense, hiring McDaniel as OC after the former Dolphins head coach posted a 35-33 record in Miami but missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Despite that, his hiring by the Chargers has been described as one of the best hires of the offseason.
The LA Chargers’ coaching tandem of Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel are here for Lakers-Mavs tonight pic.twitter.com/jjKdTVdtU1
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 13, 2026
Now in the offseason, the coaching duo is spending time together beyond the facility. Thursday’s Lakers-Mavs tilt gave them a chance to connect away from the X’s and O’s where LeBron James posted a historic triple-double at 41 years old.
The Lakers improved to 33-21 behind James’ 28 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds—making him the oldest player ever to record a triple-double.
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For Harbaugh and McDaniel, watching another Los Angeles team win offered more than entertainment. The two have been complementary since the hire, with Harbaugh admitting at the Senior Bowl that he’s “enthralled” listening to McDaniel break down football concepts.
Fans react to Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel’s courtside appearance
Social media lit up with reactions to the unlikely pairing’s attendance during the Lakers’ winning game.
One fanasked, “Do they weird each other out or is it just a vibe?”
Anotherpenned, “This is what Mike McDaniel lives for. The celebrity and attention.”
A thirdnoted, “This is actually so family friendly man, so glad they are enjoying time in the offseason but also working hard together as a paired duo💙⚡️”
A fifth fanclaimed, “Harbaugh and McDaniel courtside together? Odd couple vibes but love the coach hangout! #LakersMavs”
The Chargers open OTAs in April with championship aspirations and a revamped offensive playbook ready to turn Herbert loose.