Jim Harbaugh is trying to make a serious impact on the Chargers in his first season with the team.
Even so, veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman is getting a comedic read on his newest head coach.
When asked recently about his first impressions of Harbaugh, the 10th-year linebacker gave an unexpected answer. Perryman compared Harbaugh, who is entering his second stint as an NFL coach, to a highly successful comedian.
"I hope I don’t get in trouble for this, but he reminds me of Will Ferrell," Perryman said of Harbaugh, per ProFootballTalk.com.
Ferrell is best known for his work on "Saturday Night Live" and his starring role in the Christmas classic "Elf." Also included in his filmography are sports-themed movies "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and "Blades of Glory," as well as "Zoolander" and box-office giant "Barbie," to name a few.
On the surface, none of those scream "Jim Harbaugh." Why does Perryman see a connection between the head coach and the actor?
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Jim Harbaugh to Will Ferrell comparisons, explained
Perryman couldn't quite put his finger on exactly why Harbaugh is giving him Ferrell vibes. But he tried to explain, saying the comparison came from an amalgamation of little things.
"I don’t know if it’s the way that he talks, his analogies and everything, but they really remind me of Will Ferrell," he said. "It’s just funny to me. It’s funny, but I know he means well, like everything comes from the heart. I feel like you have to have a sense of humor to understand his lines and gimmicks. But I love it. I love him as a coach and I love the direction he’s got us going in."
Harbaugh's delivery "from the heart" could come off as similar to the overly earnest, deadpan style used in many of Ferrell's best roles. That could explain why Perryman is connecting the two, especially considering that there isn't a specific role of Ferrell's he sees Harbaugh emulating.
"Just Will Ferrell in general," Perryman said. "'Step Brothers' is a good one. I don’t know, man. He’s just giving Will Ferrell vibes. I don’t know if it’s his tone of voice or the way he talks in general, but the first thing that comes to my head is Will Ferrell."
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Perryman, who signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles in March, wanted to make it clear he means no disrespect in his assessment of Harbaugh. The 31-year-old linebacker is on his fifth different coach in five years and is looking forward to working with the former Michigan coach to bring the Chargers back to the postseason.
"I mean, I do take him seriously," Perryman said. "Everything he says, I take seriously though. But when he does joke around, I start cracking up in my seat."
It will be fun to see if Harbaugh — or the ever-creative Chargers social media team — leans into the symmetry Perryman sees to create a comedic moment. It's important to remember that Harbaugh does have an acting background, starring in an episode of "Saved by the Bell" as Screech's cousin.
Perhaps the next thing on Harbaugh's list will be to act like one of Ferrell's characters for a day at Chargers headquarters.
Or better yet, maybe Ferrell will get in on the bit and come host the beginning of a Chargers team meeting at some point before the 2024 season. He is a California native, after all.
That would give Perryman a great chance to compare notes on the two men.