In a Week 15 showdown that saw tensions flare late, Jim Harbaugh made it clear he’s not backing off his aggressive mindset - not for a scuffle, not for an ejection, and certainly not for a few too many interceptions from his quarterback. The Chargers’ head coach stood firmly behind safety Tony Jefferson after his ejection, calling the hit that triggered the late-game dust-up a routine “football play.” For Harbaugh, the message was simple: keep your edge, stay locked in, and don’t let the moment pull you off course.
That’s been the tone all season under Harbaugh - full throttle, no apologies. And it’s the same tone he took when asked about Justin Herbert’s 12 interceptions this year. Instead of dialing back, Harbaugh doubled down, encouraging his quarterback to keep slinging it.
“Keep attacking. Keep letting it rip,” Harbaugh said, punctuating the message with a golf analogy - of all things - that landed with surprising clarity.
He likened Herbert’s mindset to Tiger Woods pulling another ball from his pocket after a water hazard and stepping right back up to the tee. Harbaugh even mimed the swing, reinforcing the point: mistakes happen, but the answer isn’t fear - it’s confidence.
That approach has been a hallmark of Harbaugh’s leadership this season. He’s not trying to sanitize the game or protect his players from adversity.
He’s coaching them to lean into it. Herbert’s interception count is what it is, but Harbaugh clearly believes the bigger risk is playing scared.
Shrink the playbook, and you don’t just eliminate turnovers - you eliminate the explosive plays that make this offense dangerous.
The same philosophy carried over to the Jefferson ejection. Harbaugh said he saw a clean hit, and while the league office in New York upheld the ejection, he wasn’t rattled.
His message to the team? Don’t get distracted.
Keep playing your game. Stay true to the identity they’ve built.
That identity is physical, fast, and fearless - and Harbaugh’s not interested in softening it. Even when emotions boil over, as they did in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs, he’s not reaching for the panic button. He’s reinforcing the foundation.
Off the field, Harbaugh also addressed a more personal topic - the recent developments at his former program, Michigan. He shared that he’s been in touch with Sherrone Moore, calling the situation “a tragedy” and offering support.
His message was focused on family, telling Moore to keep it together and take care of his own. Harbaugh made it clear he’s staying out of the Wolverines’ coaching search, but it’s evident the connection to Ann Arbor still runs deep.
Back in Los Angeles, though, the focus remains on finishing strong. The Chargers are riding the highs and lows of an aggressive brand of football, and Harbaugh isn’t blinking. The turnovers are part of the ride, but so is the upside - and for Harbaugh, that’s a trade worth making.
The bottom line? Harbaugh’s not coaching scared, and he’s not asking Herbert to play scared either. The message is clear: keep firing.