Jim Harbaugh reveals source of midgame illness during Chargers win

Jim Harbaugh was an unlikely topic of conversation Sunday with the Los Angeles Chargers taking on the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

At one point in the game, Harbaugh was seen heading to the Chargers’ sideline medical tent with members of the team’s training staff. He eventually even returned to the locker room and was even listed as “doubtful to return” by the team before returning to the sideline later in the game.

It’s very rare to see a head coach come off the sidelines and be labeled as questionable, to say the least. After the game, Harbaugh acknowledged that it was a minor heart attack that eventually resolved itself and allowed him to return.

“It’s called atrial flutter. I went into a minor episode today,” Harbaugh said. “The doctors checked me and it was back to normal, so I went back.”

According to Harbaugh, he could tell on his own that he was experiencing “some irregular heartbeats.”

“I’m qualified to talk about that,” Harbaugh joked.

This isn’t the first time this specific situation has come up for Harbaugh, and he’s had ablation for the problem in the past. He referenced one instance in 1999 and another in 2012 for a Monday Night Football game when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers.

Harbaugh even remembers that Colin Kaepernick had a great game and led the 49ers to victory. With the Chargers also winning on Sunday, he is undefeated under these circumstances.

“2-0 with arrhythmias,” Harbaugh said.

Jim Harbaugh said he has atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat 250 to 350 times per minute. A rash today is what caused him to leave the game. pic.twitter.com/YiGDPab4d3

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) October 13, 2024