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.

Recent News

2026-05-28 — SI's 2026 Ranking of the NFL’s Coach-QB Duos (SI's 2026 Ranking of the NFL’s Coach-QB Duos)
2026-05-12 — Inside Jesse Minter’s whirlwind Ravens start: Red-eyes, family time and a dream job (Inside Jesse Minter’s whirlwind Ravens start: Red-eyes, family time and a dream job)
2026-05-30 — Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due (Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due)
2026-05-14 — 49ers release full 2026 schedule. Here’s an instant analysis of each week’s game (49ers release full 2026 schedule. Here’s an instant analysis of each week’s game)
2026-05-21 — 2026 NFL Preview: The 10 New Coordinators Who Could Shape Upcoming Season (2026 NFL Preview: The 10 New Coordinators Who Could Shape Upcoming Season)
2026-05-29 — 2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Giants WR Carted Off At OTA's (2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Giants WR Carted Off At OTA's)
2026-05-14 — Five Takeaways From Ravens’ 2026 Schedule (Five Takeaways From Ravens’ 2026 Schedule)
2026-05-29 — 3 future Bengals head coach candidates if Zac Taylor flops in 2026 (3 future Bengals head coach candidates if Zac Taylor flops in 2026)
2026-03-13 — Seattle Seahawks finalize coaching staff for 2026 NFL season (Seattle Seahawks finalize coaching staff for 2026 NFL season)
2026-05-16 — The Kansas City Chiefs' 2026 Preseason Schedule Has a Bizarre Wrinkle (The Kansas City Chiefs' 2026 Preseason Schedule Has a Bizarre Wrinkle)

Sources

Chargers add Miami-tree assistants around McDaniel for 2026