Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to the media about his brief exit during the first quarter of Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos due to a health issue. Harbaugh revealed that he has atrial flutter, a form of arrhythmia that leads to a rapid heartbeat, which prompted him to seek medical assistance.
During the game, Harbaugh was taken to the locker room where paramedics performed treatment and conducted an electrocardiogram scan to restore his heart to a normal rhythm. After receiving care, he returned to the sidelines and continued coaching for the rest of the game.
This is not Harbaugh’s first experience with this condition. He recalled a similar incident in 2012 while coaching the San Francisco 49ers against the Chicago Bears on a Monday night. At that time, he also experienced an irregular heartbeat but managed to finish the game before consulting with doctors.
Following the 2012 incident, Harbaugh underwent an ablation, a procedure used to eliminate the heart tissue responsible for the irregular heartbeat. He mentioned that he had another ablation in 1999.
“I’m 2-0 with an arrhythmia,” Harbaugh joked about his situation.
In his absence, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter served as the interim head coach, although many players were unaware of Harbaugh’s health scare during the game. Quarterback Justin Herbert learned of the situation only when questioned by a reporter after the game.
“He’s tough,” Herbert commented. “He did a really good job of hiding that. I hope he’s okay.”
Harbaugh disclosed that he felt discomfort the night before the game but dismissed it. However, during pregame warmups, he recognized his heartbeat was irregular and informed the training staff during the first quarter. He did not address whether he plans to undergo another ablation but acknowledged that the timing aligns with his previous procedures.
“I haven’t felt it since 2012,” he said, recognizing a pattern with the timing of his previous treatments.
Harbaugh’s brother, John, who coaches the Baltimore Ravens, interrupted his postgame news conference following a Ravens victory to check on Jim. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz reached out to John to confirm that Jim had been cleared by doctors and was doing fine.
The Chargers secured a 23-16 win over the Broncos, improving their record to 3-2.