Jim Harbaugh wound up having a hand in the JJ McCarthy trade, even if it wasn’t the kind of reunion chatter that floated around Los Angeles during the offseason.
Back when Harbaugh first landed with the Chargers, the idea of him reconnecting with McCarthy was one of those easy speculation loops that pops up every summer. The Michigan tie was obvious, and McCarthy’s name kept surfacing alongside Harbaugh’s because of it. That talk picked back up this past offseason, too, when McCarthy’s future in Minnesota looked shaky and the Chargers’ backup quarterback picture behind Justin Herbert seemed unsettled.
Now, with McCarthy heading to the Giants, Harbaugh’s connection to the deal became real in a roundabout way.
New York, trying to patch things up at quarterback after losing Jaxson Dart to a knee injury, traded for McCarthy from the Vikings. Before the move was finalized, Giants head coach John Harbaugh reached out to his brother for his take.
"John [Harbaugh] called me and asked me. I said, 'John, I love you. I love JJ," Jim Harbaugh said, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
That was enough to be part of the picture, and the Giants ultimately sent a fifth-round pick to Minnesota to get McCarthy. Whether that proves to be the right move will be answered soon enough for a 2-1 Giants team that would otherwise be turning to Jameis Winston.
McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in 2024, has completed 57.6 of his attempts as a pro so far. He has thrown for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, added four rushing scores, and lost three fumbles.
As for the Chargers, they didn’t make any changes to Herbert’s backup group. Even with Mike McDaniel arriving as offensive coordinator, Los Angeles kept both Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei, despite preseason struggles that now look a lot more revealing in hindsight.
In Other News...
Chargers Rough Start Just Got More Embarrassing Off The Field
The Chargers rough opening to the 2026 season has already left plenty for the football side to answer for, but now the noise around the team is spilling well beyond the standings. Former Love Island USA star Jaiden Bacciocco said on a podcast that after visiting the Chargers preseason training camp, she received direct messages from six players, adding another awkward layer to a team already trying to steady itself after an 0-3 start.
Bacciocco also said one player blocked her the next morning and suggested the messaging pattern involved players reaching out to multiple women. For a team already taking heat for its on-field performance, it is the kind of off-field chatter that only makes the early-season spotlight harsher, and it leaves the Chargers with more to manage than just their record. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Justin Herbert Weapons Dilemma
The Chargers receiver room is already under a lot of pressure, and the latest personnel shuffle around the league only adds to the conversation. Injuries and uneven play have left Los Angeles searching for more reliable options around Justin Herbert, with Brenen Thompson and Quentin Johnston among the names dealing with health issues or inconsistency while the pass-catching group tries to stabilize.
Odell Beckham Jr. being available again gives the Chargers another name to consider as they look for help, especially with the offense needing more dependable targets. It is the kind of situation that forces a front office to weigh fit, urgency and upside all at once, and in Los Angeles the question is no longer whether Herbert could use more weapons, but which move makes the most sense and how quickly it has to happen. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Offense Has Become An Urgent Justin Herbert Crisis
The Chargers 0-3 start has turned every offensive snap into part of a much bigger conversation, and Justin Herbert is sitting at the center of it. Through the first three games, the issues have gone beyond ordinary early-season rust, with Herbert looking uncomfortable in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels system and the whole operation failing to find a rhythm.
What makes the next stretch so sensitive is the sense that the fit itself is under scrutiny, not just the results. Herberts style and McDaniels scheme have not matched cleanly so far, and with Seattle up next, the Chargers are heading into a game that could say as much about the staffs future as it does about the standings. [Read more 🡒]