The Los Angeles Chargers pulled off a 23-16 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but the win didn’t come without drama. Head coach Jim Harbaugh gave fans and players a scare as he exited to the medical tent before the game even started. Despite the disruption, Harbaugh returned to lead the Chargers to a much-needed win.
Harbaugh’s Health Scare Causes Early Sideline Confusion
Minutes before kickoff, uncertainty rippled through Empower Field as Jim Harbaugh was unexpectedly seen heading into the team’s medical tent.
- Harbaugh later walked back to the locker room, missing the game’s opening minutes.
- The Chargers quickly confirmed that Harbaugh was dealing with an illness, later revealed to be an arrhythmia—a condition he admitted to battling off and on for years.
- Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stepped in as interim head coach until Harbaugh’s return midway through the first quarter.
The incident even disrupted Harbaugh’s brother, John Harbaugh, who was wrapping up his postgame conference following the Ravens’ 30-23 win. John abruptly ended the session to contact his brother, though it remains unclear if they were able to connect.
Herbert Leads Chargers to a Fast Start, Holds Off Broncos’ Rally
Once Harbaugh was back on the sidelines, quarterback Justin Herbert found his groove, launching a 38-yard touchdown pass to Kimani Vidal that gave the Chargers an early 10-0 lead. Herbert’s sharp performance set the tone for the rest of the game.
| Player | Key Stat | Impact on Game |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | 237 passing yards, 1 TD | Maintained offensive control |
| J.K. Dobbins | 96 yards on 25 carries, 1 TD | Balanced the offense with ground game |
| Cameron Dicker | 2 field goals | Extended the lead and secured win |
By halftime, the Chargers had posted 23 unanswered points, including a 4-yard rushing touchdown from J.K. Dobbins. Herbert went 21-for-34 on pass attempts, keeping the Broncos’ defense guessing.
Despite the Broncos’ late surge, sparked by two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Bo Nix, the Chargers held on for the win, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Harbaugh’s Arrhythmia: A Familiar Yet Manageable Challenge
Following the game, Harbaugh addressed the situation, explaining to CBS that he had experienced atrial flutter—an irregular heartbeat causing the heart’s upper chambers to beat too quickly.
“I’ve dealt with this before,” Harbaugh admitted, recalling a similar episode during his tenure with the 49ers, where his team famously defeated the Bears on Monday Night Football. “I guess I’m 2-0 with arrhythmias,” he joked.
Harbaugh confirmed that his heart returned to a normal sinus rhythm after medical evaluation, allowing him to rejoin the game. He also mentioned a scheduled follow-up appointment with doctors on Monday to assess the condition further.
Broncos’ Streak Snapped in Front of Home Crowd
The Broncos entered Sunday’s matchup riding a three-game win streak, but the Chargers’ early dominance left Denver struggling to catch up. Quarterback Bo Nix threw two late touchdown passes, including a one-handed end-zone grab by Courtland Sutton, but it wasn’t enough.
Denver’s loss puts them at 3-3 on the season, dimming the momentum they had built in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the Chargers improved to 3-2, reviving their playoff hopes under Harbaugh’s first-year leadership.
