Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh acted swiftly when he began feeling unwell during pregame warmups. In the first quarter of Sunday’s game, he sought medical attention for an irregular heartbeat, retreating to the medical tent and then the locker room. Fortunately, an EKG confirmed that his heart had returned to a normal rhythm, allowing him to rejoin the sidelines with his team already leading 3-0.
The Chargers didn’t falter, ultimately securing a 23-16 victory against the Denver Broncos. Remarkably, quarterback Justin Herbert was unaware of his coach’s temporary absence. However, his brother, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, promptly interrupted his postgame news conference to inquire about Jim’s well-being after his own team’s win over the Washington Commanders.
“Everything ended up turning out to be OK,” Jim Harbaugh stated, noting that he had received IV fluids. “The doctors checked me out, and it got back into normal rhythm. So I came back. It’s the heart, so you take it seriously.”
Jim Harbaugh has contended with atrial flutter, a condition that can lead to an accelerated heart rate, for quite some time. He underwent an ablation procedure in 1999 to address the irregular rhythms and had another in 2012 while coaching the San Francisco 49ers. He vividly recalls that second procedure, which followed a memorable Monday night game where Colin Kaepernick propelled the 49ers to a resounding 32-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Until this weekend, Harbaugh had not experienced another episode. “I started feeling it last night, but wasn’t really sure,” he reflected. “Just like in 2012, it was during the pregame warmups when I began to notice something.”
In an attempt to lighten the mood, he quipped, “2-0 in arrhythmias.”
Herbert was taken aback to learn that his coach had left the sideline, having believed everything was normal. Harbaugh had mentioned some concerns about his health the night before. “He said he was really excited for the game, that his blood was flowing and he was pumped up,” Herbert remarked. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown, emphasizing that Harbaugh should indeed monitor his health. “He’s a tough guy, though,” Herbert added.
While in the locker room, Harbaugh had his pulse checked and an EKG performed. “Trust the doctors. If you’re not going to trust your doctors, who are you gonna trust?” he said. After being reassured that he had returned to normal sinus rhythm, he declared, “I feel good,” and headed back to the field.
Harbaugh plans to follow up with his cardiologist on Monday. Initially, the Chargers described his absence as an illness. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter filled in until Harbaugh returned midway through the first quarter, with the Chargers leading 3-0 and advancing toward another score. The team surged to a 23-0 lead in the second half before the Broncos mounted a late comeback.