On Sunday, the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 23-17. With a 0-5 record, the Chargers are tied with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans for the worst record in the league.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh blames himself for Sunday’s loss. More specifically, he blames his fourth-down call in the final quarter, which flipped the game’s momentum.
Los Angeles Squanders Fourth-Quarter Lead
With the Chargers leading 17-10 with 10:33 remaining, Jim Harbaugh opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 41. Quarterback Justin Herbert was stuffed, barely making it back to the line of scrimmage.
The Broncos quickly pounced five plays later, tying the game at 17 apiece on a Courtland Sutton reception. It was an uncharacteristic decision for typically conservative Harbaugh, and one he took personal accountability for in his post-game presser.
Harbaugh viewed the decision as wrong and made it clear to the players that he shouldered the defeat.
“I can’t think of a time where I’ve been more mad at myself,” he said. “This team works so hard, played so valiantly. And yeah, I take 100% accountability for making that decision and turned the momentum of the game. So it was the wrong one and I got to be right on those.”
Justin Herbert defended the decision, stating it’s on him as a quarterback to get a yard.
“I think it’s on me to get a yard. We got to be able to push and get a yard,” he said. “I have complete faith in our guys and myself, and it’s on us to go get a yard and convert.”
The Harbaugh Era Hits a Wall
When Jim Harbaugh first arrived in Los Angeles, plenty of optimism followed that the franchise had been searching for. After winning a championship at the University of Michigan, few doubted his ability as a head coach.
The results backed up that optimism.
The Chargers won 11 games in each of Harbaugh’s first two seasons, establishing themselves as a formidable, playoff-caliber team and giving fans reason to believe the organization was headed in the right direction.
Now, that optimism and belief seem like a distant fantasy. The Harbaugh-led Chargers have blundered to a 0-5 start, the worst in franchise history since 2003. The same team that was competing to be one of the AFC’s best is now competing for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Chargers will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face in-division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. Looking to avoid a 0-6 start, this may be the last opportunity for a “get right” game.
Near the end of his post-game press conference, Harbaugh was asked what message he would give his 0-5 football team.
“I don’t know what that message is,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just in the players to just fight their hearts out, to play, give it everything they have. That’s the only way. That’s the best way.”
Harbaugh trailed off at the end and seemed at a complete loss for words. This is worth worrying about for Chargers fans, as this was the same coach who made “Who’s got it better than us?” a rallying cry at Michigan. On Sunday, he had nothing.
The Clock Is Ticking in Los Angeles
The Chargers have now started the season with five consecutive losses.
This one felt different. It felt like the Chargers were the better team. Los Angeles dominated the third quarter. Justin Herbert and the offense drove 73 yards for a touchdown, with Hayden Rucci‘s first NFL touchdown tying the game at 10 apiece.
The very next drive, Tuli Tuipulotu forced and recovered a Bo Nix fumble. Taking over on the DEN 42-yard line, Kimani Vidal took the first play 42 yards to give the Chargers a 17-10 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the storyline flipped. The Bolts were outscored 13-0 in the final 16 minutes, and the ending felt all too familiar. The offensive line began to collapse, the wide receivers failed to consistently create separation, and Justin Herbert threw a game-sealing interception right to Brandon Jones with just over three minutes left in the contest.
Jim Harbaugh deserves some credit for turning this franchise into a playoff team, but past success can only buy you so much. Head coaches like Sean McDermott found themselves relieved of their duties even after many successful seasons.
Despite the disastrous start, Jim Harbaugh still doesn’t seem to be on the hot seat. Harbaugh signed a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in January 2024, running through the 2028 season. In other words, the Chargers are unlikely to take on the financial burden of terminating Jim Harbaugh.
That isn’t to say that Harbaugh is completely in the clear. His name has started popping up on potential hot-seat lists, and a 0-5 start only adds fuel to the fire. With upcoming games against the Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens, Jim Harbaugh is running out of time to salvage his worst start in his coaching career.
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