What happened to Jim Harbaugh? Chargers head coach questionable to return due to illness after trip to locker room

Teddy Ricketson

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What happened to Jim Harbaugh? Chargers head coach questionable to return due to illness after trip to locker room image

The Los Angeles Chargers are taking on the Denver Broncos in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season. While we typically see players heading into the blue medical tent, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was seen going into the medical tent before the start of the game. 

Harbaugh went into the medical then and was promptly escorted to the locker room. Harbaugh is dealing with an illness and is questionable to return.

What happened to Jim Harbaugh?

As strange as it sounds, something has caused Harbaugh to enter the medical tent and the locker room.

We still don't know the exact details, but Harbaugh's return has been deemed questionable due to illness. Hopefully, it is something that fades quickly, like a stomach bug, and the team can just give him some fluids in the locker room, and he can recover. 

Harbaugh made it through all of the pregame warm-ups and only went into the tent just before kickoff. While he is getting checked out, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is serving as the acting head coach. 

Jim Harbaugh injury updates

Harbaugh was able to return to the sideline in the first quarter. He seems to be in good spirits, and has resumed head coaching duties. Hopefully, whatever Harbaugh was dealing with has passed, and he will be able to get through the remainder of the game. 

We will include any post-game comments about what happened. 

CBS' AJ Ross caught up with Harbaugh at halftime. He said that he was dealing with heart arrhythmia. This refers to an irregular heartbeat, whether it be too fast and unable to slow down, or the inverse. Harbaugh has been dealing with this issue "on and off for a while." 

 Harbaugh addressed the illness in his postgame press conference. He said that he was dealing with an "atrial flutter" and that his heart beat was able to get back into rhythm fairly quickly. Harbaugh said he got an IV in the locker room and a magnesium pill, but will be following up with a cardiologist. He added that he dealt with something similar in 2012. 

Harbaugh revealed Monday that he plans to wear a heart monitor to keep tabs on his heartbeat going forward, adding that he's taking two new medications to manage the issue.

John Harbaugh cuts postgame presser short

Jim's brother John was conducting a postgame press conference after the Baltimore Ravens win over the Washington Commanders. The Baltimore PR team interrupted the presser to let John know that his brother Jim went into the medical tent and locker room, and John left the podium to call and check in on his brother. 

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson Photo

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.