'We Need Each Other,' Chargers' Mike McDaniel Talks Jim Harbaugh Partnership Ahead of NFL Season

Mike McDaniel and Jim Harbaugh are proof that finding someone whose unique personality matches your own that you should run with it.

Leading up to their first game coaching together with the Los Angeles Chargers, McDaniel explained to ESPN's Kris Rhim "we need each other" when discussing his partnership with Harbaugh.

"We need each other," McDaniel said. "But that's kind of the beauty of the National Football League ... you learn quickly that every year you are putting your career in the hands of all of your teammates."

It's well known that Harbaugh has an interesting personality. As an example, he said earlier in the week that the start of the NFL season means he will "support no cause, foreign or domestic, other than the greatness of the Los Angeles Chargers."

McDaniel's quirkiness isn't as well-documented as Harbaugh's, but he can give you a unique soundbite from time to time.

Beyond some similar personality traits, though, another reason McDaniel and Harbaugh need each other is because of how complementary their coaching styles are.

Harbaugh's success as a head coach in college and the NFL has come from building rosters through the trenches with a strong running game.

McDaniel was praised at times during his tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins for his innovative offense, particularly the " cheat motion " before the snap that helped them rank near the top of the NFL in points scored.

After the Chargers finished just 20th in points scored last season, Harbaugh decided to make a change at offensive coordinator. Greg Roman, whose time with Harbaugh goes back to 2009 when they were together at Stanford, was fired two days after a 16-3 playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

McDaniel, who list his job with the Dolphins at the end of the season, was hired to replace Roman and add some new wrinkles to the offense with the goal of unlocking Justin Herbert's full skill set.

Time will tell if the marriage between Harbaugh and McDaniel pans out, but the prospect of this new offense with a quarterback like Herbert is extremely tantalizing.

McDaniel will get to show off what he has been cooking up for Herbert on Sunday when the Chargers host the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium in the season opener for both teams.