Jim Harbaugh
Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach.
Quick Facts
- Role: Head Coach
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers (LAC)
- Current holder: Jim Harbaugh (entering Year 2 of his second NFL HC stint in 2026)
- Coaching tree: Harbaugh / Michigan branch; see Coaching Trees
Background
Returned to the NFL in 2025 after Michigan's title run, taking over the Chargers as HC. Prior NFL HC stint with the 49ers (2011-14, four straight playoff trips and a Super Bowl appearance). Built the Chargers around physicality and a power run game in his first season.
For 2026, Harbaugh paired with new OC Mike McDaniel to add explosiveness to the offense and rebuilt the Miami-style staff around him (OL coach Butch Barry, TEs coach Chandler Henley, RB coach Max McCaffrey).
Scheme and Tendencies
Run-first, physical, defensively-anchored. The McDaniel hire is the first real concession to a modern Shanahan-tree passing game. Expect more zone-run looks, motion, and condensed-formation plays in 2026.
2026 Progress
At June minicamp, Harbaugh offered his most enthusiastic public assessment of Herbert, comparing him intellectually to OC Mike McDaniel and saying both operate "at a different level" from himself. Harbaugh stated the more they work together (eight weeks as of mid-June), the better the partnership becomes, explicitly saying "we're in good shape" with Herbert running the offense. Harbaugh has worked with Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Andrew Luck, so his public endorsement carries weight as Herbert's biggest advocate at the organizational level. This confidence from the HC signals the Chargers believe the McDaniel pairing is accelerating faster than typical offseason transitions and positions Herbert for breakout 2026 performance (per 2026 Chargers minicamp: Herbert's progress, contract intel).
Injury prevention focus: Harbaugh has made injury prevention a centerpiece of his 2026 offseason approach after the Chargers struggled with injuries in 2025 (Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater on the O-line, rookie RB Omarion Hampton missed seven games). He brought in specialists to optimize players' sleep habits and circadian rhythm, consulting on the best times for practice based on sleep science. While it's uncertain whether these sleep optimizations will directly prevent injuries, improving sleep quality is known to benefit player performance and recovery. The focus reflects Harbaugh's belief that controllable factors like circadian rhythm management could help keep the roster healthy heading into 2026 (per Chargers Draw Scrutiny Over Injuries in 2026 NFL Preview).
Recent News
- 2026-08-30 — Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy makes initial 53-man roster (Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy makes initial 53-man roster)
- 2026-08-30 — Did J.J. McCarthy make the Vikings? Latest updates as roster solidifies (Did J.J. McCarthy make the Vikings? Latest updates as roster solidifies)
- 2026-07-09 — NFL OC Changes and Their Fantasy Impact in 2026 (NFL OC Changes and Their Fantasy Impact in 2026)
- 2026-08-05 — Top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers entering 2026: Sean McVay, Mike Macdonald... (Top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers entering 2026: Sean McVay, Mike Macdonald...)
- 2026-07-16 — Notable NFL injuries to monitor as training camps open: Latest on Mahomes, Nabers,... (Notable NFL injuries to monitor as training camps open: Latest on Mahomes, Nabers,...)
- 2026-05-21 — 2026 Projected IDP Depth Charts (2026 Projected IDP Depth Charts)
- 2026-08-24 — 2026 Los Angeles Chargers: Projecting final 53-man roster (2026 Los Angeles Chargers: Projecting final 53-man roster)
- 2026-03-11 — Buccaneers.com 2026 Mock Draft 5.0 (Buccaneers.com 2026 Mock Draft 5.0)
- 2026-08-28 — Projecting the Chargers’ 53-man roster with cutdown day set for Sunday (Projecting the Chargers’ 53-man roster with cutdown day set for Sunday)
- 2026-08-27 — 2026 New York Giants training camp: Latest intel, updates (2026 New York Giants training camp: Latest intel, updates)
Sources
- Chargers add Miami-tree assistants around McDaniel for 2026