Mike McDaniel Joked He’d ‘Take His Shirt Off’ If Chargers Drafted Brenen Thompson

TL;DR

Los Angeles Chargers drafted Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson with the No. 105 pick in the fourth round. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel humorously promised to take his shirt off if the team acquired Thompson, who was the fastest draftee at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Key points

Brenen Thompson was drafted by the Chargers with the No. 105 pick
Mike McDaniel promised to take his shirt off if Thompson was drafted
Thompson set a Mississippi State record with 1,054 receiving yards in 2025

NFL CombineLos Angeles ChargersCleveland Browns

Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson was the fastest draftee at the 2026 NFL Combine. He ran a 4.26 40-yard dash, and Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wanted the speedster on the team next season.

Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mississippi State wideout Brenen Thompson (WO39) runs in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Before the Chargers drafted Thompson with the No. 105 in the fourth round, McDaniel told Chargers’ staff members he would take his shirt off in celebration if the franchise acquired Thompson. “In this whole formula, if you can find a way to get Brenen Thompson, I will take my shirt off in here… On the record,” McDaniel said in the Chargers’ draft room before selecting Thompson on Day 3 of the draft. The Chargers sacrificed the No. 86 pick in the third round to the Cleveland Browns in order to get the No. 105 pick they used to draft Thompson. In addition to the No. 105 pick, Los Angeles received the No. 145 pick in the fifth round and No. 206 pick in the sixth round from Cleveland. Once the Chargers had secured Thompson, McDaniel said everyone should be fired up about landing the Second Team All-SEC selection. “If you’re not fired up. You are dead. You have no pulse,” McDaniel said.