“Eight winning seasons, three Big Ten championships, three College Football Playoff berths and more” – it’s definitely not a joke to cap just nine seasons with these many honors. But for the current Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh, it was a possible task! This is why he is leading a Hall of Fame list of inductees of Michigan.

Now, he is with the Chargers. Last time, the Chargers had a great opportunity with Justin Herbert on a rookie contract, but they wasted it. Their defenses were weak, they made poor draft choices, and key players got injured. This combination led to the team’s missed chances and underperformance despite having a promising quarterback. Hence, to solve all the mess, the franchise signed Harbaugh, with a belief that he will lead the team to a glorious season. But many are wondering what Jim Harbaugh’s special sauce is which can help the team? The NFL’s former wide receiver recently tried to answer that query.

Jim Harbaugh is a Superman for the Chargers without a cape

In a recent interview with Colin Cowherd on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on July 29, 2024, T. J. Houshmandzadeh talked about Jim Harbuagh and his coaching techniques. When the host asked the former WR, “What’s the secret sauce with Harbaugh” that can clear the Chargers’ mess, Houshmandzadeh gave a straightforward answer. The veteran WR replied, “He’s smart, he can relate to players anybody that goes to their practice, he has Jordan cleat tone, and he might get under Center sometimes and participate in practice. They do a lot of post-practice lifts and runs, he’s doing it with the players.”

Not only that! The 46-year-old former NFL player also dived into the personality of Harbaugh, likening him to Dan Campbell. Yes! The Lions’ coach, Campbell, also has some similarities to the LA HC. This is evident from Detroit’s defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s comments which he made previously. He noted, “They [Campbell and Harbaugh] share that passion and fire that not many other coaches have.”

But is passion and fire the only thing the two coaches share? Probably the answer to this is no! In the same interview with Cowherd, Houshmandzadeh said, “He is out there (like) baby Dan Campbell, he’s doing a lot of that stuff that let you in on a little.”  He further added that while many coaches in the league can teach football, few can truly help players improve at their specific positions.

Campbell and Harbaugh stand out because they excel in this area, making them exceptional coaches. Houshmandzadeh also probably said this because the Lions’ coach too has a similar kind of coaching style and energetic, hands-on-approach. As per Houshmandzadeh, Harbaugh’s involvement creates a unique bond. He can improve players’ skills at their positions and this builds trust.

Players believe in his guidance because he has a proven track record. Whether at the University of San Diego, Stanford, Michigan, or the 49ers, Harbaugh has shown he can turn teams around. This trust is crucial; when players trust their coach, they execute plays confidently and effectively. Consequently, the impressive wins follows! So, are these all points the secret sauce of Harbaugh?

It’s all about the football recipe intricacies!

Last year when Harbaugh was asked about his secret sauce for beating Ohio State consecutive times, the former Michigan coach mentioned there isn’t any sauce, it’s just the right recipe. While speaking at the Big Ten Media days, the coach expressed, “Lot of little — a lot of things. A lot of little things that people think are minutiae. It’s really 1,000 little things. It’s the work. We always — if you ever analyzed it and took it apart you’d understand that it’s the work, the compiled work.” Now that he is with the Chargers, Harbaugh has brought his Michigan playbook into the facility.

And his unique style of coaching? Well, that too has followed him here at the City of Angels. For instance, before the first training camp practice for the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh was crossing the field in his cleats and noticed All-Pro safety Derwin James. Always ready to engage with his players, Harbaugh called out, “Hey… gliiide.”

While raising his right hand like a plane taking off. He encouraged James to “glide” through the practice, saying they would soon be soaring at “30,000 feet.” James responded enthusiastically, slapping Harbaugh’s hand and saying, “I got you.” This moment tells Harbaugh’s unique coaching style: “he teaches, motivates, and connects with his players using vivid and sometimes quirky analogies.”