Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh disclosed that he experienced a heart condition that led him to temporarily leave the field during the team’s 23-16 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 6.
Harbaugh identified the condition as atrial flutter, explaining, “I got into an episode.” He was escorted to the locker room by the medical staff during the Chargers’ first offensive drive early in the first quarter.
The 60-year-old coach received treatment in the locker room, where doctors confirmed that his heart had returned to a normal rhythm. He rejoined the game with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter.
“Did an (electrocardiogram) and they said it was back to the sinus rhythm,” Harbaugh noted after the game. “And I said I feel good, so I got back there on the field.”
Harbaugh mentioned that he has previously experienced atrial flutter episodes, including one during his tenure as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
During his absence, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over as the team’s interim head coach.
After the game, Harbaugh expressed that he is feeling well but intends to consult with a cardiologist on Monday.
“Trust the doctors,” he emphasized. “It’s the heart so you take it seriously, right? Trust the doctors.”