Jim Harbaugh is the ultimate football guy. Harbaugh has had an almost cartoonish appreciation for the sport since entering the coaching ranks, and everywhere he goes, success follows. After taking Stanford to a BCS game, the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, and winning the national championship at Michigan, the coach continued to work his magic with the Los Angeles Chargers in his first season.
Jim Harbaugh is the ultimate football guy, and these moments prove it
11 amusing Jim Harbaugh moments for Chargers ahead of NFL Playoffs
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
A year ago, the Chargers finished 5-12. Harbaugh took over and immediately led the team to an 11-6 record and a spot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. The Chargers now begin their playoff run as Los Angeles burns due to wildfires. It would be easy to excuse the Chargers having their minds off football with so much destruction back home, but if anyone can keep them on task, it’s Harbaugh.
Harbaugh preaches physicality and discipline to his teams, and over the years he’s developed a strange and occasionally hilarious vernacular to describe his ethos. Football coaches are usually all a bit off their rocker, but Harbaugh takes it to the next level.
As the Chargers take on the Houston Texans to open the 2025 NFL Playoffs, here are our favorite Harbaugh football guy moments this year.
“I love guys who like football. Guys who like football like me back.”
This is Jim Harbaugh’s mission statement. Put it on his tombstone.
Harbaugh loves Justin Herbert aka Beast
Harbaugh was an NFL quarterback himself back in the day, but he never had the talent of his current starter, Justin Herbert. Herbert can make plays that only the league’s very best can match, and Harbaugh is often losing his mind watching it. The coach’s appreciation for “Beast” will put a big smile on your face.
“I’d lay down my life for my brother, but I would not let him win a football game.”
It’s always cinema when the Harbaugh brothers face-off, with the sibling rivalry peaking with Super Bowl XLVII (which John’s Ravens won in a thriller). I actually believe John when he says he’d give his life for his brother, but wouldn’t let him win a football game.
Jim Harbaugh is not a doctor
But he’ll still explain the human to you.
Jim Harbaugh remembers the day he was born
Okay, man.
Best high-fives ever and “Jolly Good Fellow” singalongs
This has to be the only locker room in the NFL singing “Jolly Good Fellow” after wins. Why?
“I like it. The guys seem to like it. It’s fun,” Harbaugh said. “Kind of sums up how you’re feeling and guys had a big game.”
Mad at himself for dropping passes
Hey, he isn’t a former wide receiver.
Beating up Herbert’s pads
Herbert going for the hug as Harbaugh starts his pad hitting routine is pure gold.
“The only joke I know”
That’s Harbaugh math.
“Like Moses, I’m gonna die leaning on my staff”
I wonder how long he had that one stored up.
A touching story about Harbaugh and Kenny Williams
This was a wonderful story about Harbaugh and former Chicago White Sox executive Kenny Williams that ties back to the coach’s love for his players.
We’ll add more amusing Harbaugh moments as they happen in the 2025 NFL Playoffs.
See More:
