LA Chargers finalizing deal to hire USC assistant Kiel McDonald as RBs coach

New Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is continuing to fill out his staff as he enters his first season at the helm in LA. With NFL insider Adam Schefter reporting Thursday morning that the Chargers are finalizing a deal to make USC assistant Kiel McDonald the team’s next running backs coach.

McDonald has spent the past two seasons as USC running backs coach and five seasons prior to that in the same role for the Utah Utes.

According to Scheffer, McDonald had opportunities this offseason to become a college offensive coordinator, but has instead chosen to join Harbaugh’s staff and coach at the professional level for the first time in his career for Los Angeles.

McDonald has coached some of the Pac-12’s top running backs during his last seven years in the conference. Boasting names like Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Zack Moss, the late Ty Jordan (a Freshman All-American and the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2020), and Utah’s single-season rushing touchdown record holder Tavion Thomas. Along with most recently MarShawn Lloyd and Travis Dye at USC, who both reached 1,000 all-purpose yards under McDonald’s tutelage.

Prior to his stint with Utah, McDonald spent five seasons as the running backs coach at FCS Eastern Washington where he also served as the Eagles’ co-special teams coordinator. A program that made the FCS playoffs four times during his tenure with three national semifinals appearances and one quarterfinals appearance. Transforming Eastern Washington’s run game to a unit averaging 79 yards per game prior to his arrival to 183.7 yards per game by his second season.

McDonald’s only NFL coaching experience came in 2010 when he interned with the San Fransisco 49ers, helping out with the team’s secondary. As he now returns to the league in a much more expanded role after building up his reputation as one of the best running back coaches in the country.

McDonald will work under newly hired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who last coached as the play caller for the Baltimore Ravens between 2019 and 2022. A four year stretch where the Ravens led the NFL in rushing twice and ranked second once, highlighted by an MVP season in 2019 by quarterback Lamar Jackson where he rushed for a career-high 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with his 3,127 yards through the air and career-high 36 touchdown passes.

Harbaugh’s known for his physical, ground-and-pound offensive style, with McDonald seeming like a perfect fit for the Chargers as he becomes the first departure on Lincoln Riley‘s offensive staff since his arrival at USC.