The Texans are in and the Chargers are out! Houston defeated Jim Harbaugh‘s Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round and Chargers fans are heartbroken. The atmosphere before kickoff indicated that the Chargers rather fancied their chances of winning. And they started well enough to lead 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. But then, the Texans morphed into a different beast. C.J. Stroud and co. put on a masterclass while Justin Herbert had an unfortunate disaster class. Well, a sad day for the Los Angeles fans. But guess what? Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, previously of the University of Michigan, made a bold statement on the Chargers.

Following a stint in the NFL with the 49ers, Harbaugh had been the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines since 2015 after replacing Brady Hoke. Harbaugh spent nine years in Michigan, secured three Big Ten Championships, and also won the ‘Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2022’. Talking about those days, Harbaugh said, “My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine. I’m remarkably fortunate to have been afforded the privilege of coaching at places where life’s journey has created strong personal connections for me.” That’s impressive, and it seems that Michigan is close to his heart, but perhaps no longer his favorite.

This season, he made a highly anticipated return to the NFL when he took the job at the Chargers. Do you know what Jim Harbaugh said about the Chargers after the conclusion of his first year? The coach said, “It’s my favorite ball team I’ve ever been on. The sun will come up tomorrow. And we will be attacking it.” It could be a shock to some loyal Wolverines, but it’s a sign of the deep bond Harbaugh has created with Los Angeles.

And what’s his best gift for the Chargers? His charismatic leadership helped them make the post-season after missing out last year. The Chargers ended the regular season 2nd in the AFC West standings, recording 11 wins. But their campaign has now come to an abrupt end with the loss to the Texans.

But in the wild-card game, one Harbaugh player made waves. The HC had some special words for him.

Jim Harbaugh praises Ladd McConkey

After being mauled by the Texans‘ defense for the majority of the game, the deflated Chargers appeared down and out. But wide receiver Ladd McConkey threw them a lifeline in the fourth quarter. An 86-yard touchdown surprised everyone in the NRG Stadium and gave the Chargers some hope. The score was 23-12 and there were still over 10 minutes left on the clock. While that hope fizzled out soon after, McConkey left a mighty impression on Jim Harbaugh.

When asked about the wide receiver, he used the nickname that he often uses for Justin Herbert: “Beast.” Harbaugh said, “He was a beast. Incredible player. Tough as they come. Love the way all the guys fought and battled.” Harbaugh had earlier placed that tag on his QB when he said, “I’m changing his name to ‘Beast.’ Beast Herbert…Half man, half beast,” in November 2024.

Alright, the Chargers just came up short. But Jim Harbaugh sounds positive that he’s at the right place at the right time. Can he pull something magical out the hat in the coming seasons?