Jim Harbaugh

If the Los Angeles Chargers have any complaints with the rulings from the officials on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they'll have their own judge on the case.

According to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry, Judge Judy will serve as an honorary captain for the team against the Bucs. The team's head coach, Jim Harbaugh, is reportedly a big fan of hers.

Harbaugh's methods may be unusual at times, but they've certainly been working in his first year back in the NFL. The Chargers are currently 8-5 and holding on to the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs, currently with the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos (8-5) and a two-game lead on the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Miami Dolphins (6-7).

"He's a great coach. A great leader," Bucs guard Ben Bredeson—who played under Harbaugh at Michigan—told reporters this week. "I really enjoyed playing for him, and so did my brother (Max). They're having a good year over there. He's got a unique personality. Guys play for him, and I think he's having some success back in the NFL."

As for the honorable Judy Sheindlin, most famously known as Judge Judy, she's had a surprising level of crossover into the world of sports this week. After Juan Soto signed his massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, his former manager, Mike Shildt, cited Sheindlin's lucrative career to offer some context on Soto.

"To her credit, Judge Judy was making $47 million," he told reporters. "Forty-seven million a year! I don't think she throws a really good curveball or can hit a good slider. She's making way more than anybody before Juan has made in our industry. So, it's all perspective. Good for Juan. I'm happy for him."

And back in 2013, Harbaugh—then the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers—went to a taping of the Judge Judy show.

"I'm a big fan of the 'Judge Judy' show," he said at the time. "And when you lie in Judge Judy's courtroom, it's over. Your credibility is completely lost. You stand no chance of winning that case. So, I learned that from her."

After winning a national championship at Michigan last year, Jim Harbaugh landed a head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers and has gone on to put together a solid season.

But two teams were reportedly in the mix to hire him before the Chargers did. NFL insider Michael Lombardi confirmed a report that Harbaugh was interested in the Chicago Bears and also noted that he eyed the Las Vegas Raiders coaching job.

"There were two teams that Jim Harbaugh would have loved to work for last year," he said on the Pat McAfee Show. "The Bears, who he played for and was the [first-round draft] pick for, and then the Las Vegas Raiders, who he worked for in his first coaching job. Neither team decided to go after him. Why, I don't know."

"Kevin Warren is running that Chicago Bears team and that story about Jim Harbaugh is completely true..

Jim Harbaugh would've loved to worked for the Bears and Raiders but neither team decided to go after him" ~ @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/uXLdPrGScP

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 5, 2024

Both the Bears and Raiders might be regretting their decision not to pursue Harabugh last offseason. Chicago is 4-8 and just fired head coach Matt Eberflus after losing a sixth straight game. Las Vegas has lost eight straight and is on its way to missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, sitting at 2-10 on the year.

Harbaugh's Chargers, meanwhile, are 8-4 after going 5-12 a season ago. Los Angeles, which sits second in the AFC West behind the Kansas City Chiefs, has a manageable stretch to close out the season and can secure a playoff spot with a few more wins.

Had Harbaugh landed with the Bears, things could have gone much differently in Chicago. The Bears have plenty of talent with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams under center and receivers like DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen. They've shown flashes of potential all year, losing to strong teams like the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions by less than a touchdown, but perhaps didn't have the right coach making the calls.

It's hard to say whether things would have gone better with the Raiders if Harbaugh had been at the helm given all their struggles, but his success with the Chargers seems to indicate Las Vegas could have had a more promising season.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh praised his brother, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, ahead of a matchup between their teams on Monday Night Football.

"Nobody I trust more in football than my brother John," Jim said, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

Their shared confidence in each other is reflected in the staff of each respective coach, as the brothers have multiple assistants that have worked under both of them throughout their careers (via Popper).

Monday represents the third meeting between the two, with John owning a 2-0 record in the first two contests. Their most notable matchup occurred in Super Bowl XLVII, as John's Ravens secured a hard-fought 34-31 victory over Jim and the San Francisco 49ers to clinch Baltimore's second Lombardi trophy.

108 YARDS TO THE HOUSE.

11 years ago today, Jacoby Jones made history in Super Bowl XLVII. pic.twitter.com/JOeauvNYVV

— NFL (@NFL) February 3, 2024

Jim returned to his alma mater following his stint with the 49ers, leading Michigan to a record of 89-25 as well as a national title in 2023 during his nine years at the school.

He eventually transitioned back to the NFL level during the 2024 offseason and his first year with the Chargers has been a success, helping the team open the season with a 7-3 record.

The upcoming meeting between the two brothers also contains heavy playoff implications, as both teams currently occupy the top wild card spots in the AFC standings. With the Ravens sitting at 7-4, a win on Monday would put them above the Chargers and give them a crucial head-to-head victory in case both teams finish the regular season with identical records.

Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET.

The Harbaugh brothers' teams will be playing Monday evening as John's Baltimore Ravens visit Jim's Los Angeles Chargers.

When asked about facing off against his brother Wednesday, Jim Harbaugh noted he didn't want to make the game about them.

"I'm sure he doesn't want to make it about him," Harbaugh said, per Nick Shook of NFL.com. "I don't want to make it about me. It is what it is. Big game, for sure. Two teams having at it."

The brothers have faced each other twice before when Jim Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), most notably in Super Bowl XLVII, when Baltimore won 34-31 in Feb. 2013. The Ravens also beat the 49ers in Nov. 2011, 16-6.

Despite Jim Harbaugh's efforts to downplay the brotherly coaching matchup, it's clear this will be a talking point all week and especially on Monday. For example, ESPN is already putting out a special on Friday before airing the game on Monday.

"Who's got it better than us?!"

ESPN profiles John & Jim Harbaugh — bringing fans untold stories, a look back at SBXLVII & Harbaughism origins — all leading up to #MNF's 'Harbaugh Bowl'

SC Special: The Harbaugh Brothers
🏈Fri | ESPN+, YouTube, ESPN

🔗https://t.co/442AaGupNb pic.twitter.com/ROQdLn9RgQ

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 21, 2024

They are the only brothers to face off as coaches in NFL history, so the feat is quite impressive and should be discussed.

The two also have a great love and respect for one another, and that was apparent during chats with the media this week. John Harbaugh notably spoke with reporters Thursday on the matter.

“That’s my brother. My best friend. I’m proud of him.”#Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh on Monday’s game against John Harbaugh’s Ravens. pic.twitter.com/ppRjaaCh2r

— Eric Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) November 20, 2024

Ravens HC John Harbaugh is all smiles as he describes the HC he’ll face this week aka his brother Jim.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/eyt51rRbzE

— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) November 21, 2024

John Harbaugh on his brother Jim: “One of the best coaches of this generation. I’d believe that even if he weren’t my brother.” pic.twitter.com/B9pR8YSo0X

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 21, 2024

This is also a huge matchup otherwise against two teams currently in AFC playoff position. The 7-3 Chargers hold the AFC's first wild-card spot and sit two games back of the Kansas City Chiefs for first in the AFC West (and AFC overall).

The 7-4 Ravens have the AFC's second AFC wild-card spot and are currently a game-and-a-half behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for the North division lead.

So there will be great attention placed on both sidelines as the coaches and brothers battle, but this is an intriguing matchup even when putting that aside. Kickoff is set for Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET in Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh's love of Bolts quarterback Justin Herbert is no secret, but he continued his relentless praise of the fifth-year signal-caller Wednesday by calling him one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

"Enjoy it. He's not only one of the best in the game currently, he's one of the best of all-time," Harbaugh said Wednesday, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I do not feel at all like I'm going out on a limb in saying that."

Harbaugh also added:

"Everything you could say good about a quarterback and then some. Talent and effort, and just intangibles that are off the chart. Every measurement you could have for a quarterback, tangible or intangible, he possesses at the highest level. It's like being around greatness every day."

Herbert is enjoying a fantastic 2024 season, throwing 13 touchdowns to just one interception while completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 2,186 yards (7.9 yards per attempt). His 102.1 passer rating ranks sixth in the NFL.

Los Angeles is enjoying a fantastic season in Harbaugh's first year at the helm, going 7-3 through 10 games. The Chargers look well-positioned for a playoff berth and currently occupy the AFC's first wild card spot.

The vibes and chemistry are off-the-charts in Los Angeles right now, and it's clear that Harbaugh and Herbert's relationship is at the forefront there.

The Chargers' social media team gave fans a glimpse of that (in particular, Harbaugh's unbridled enthusiasm) in a highlight package of the team's 27-10 home win over the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 10.

nobody:
coach harbaugh: JUSTIN HERBERT pic.twitter.com/5nOdKkVveH

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 12, 2024

Harbaugh's praise of Herbert wasn't limited to calling him one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time Wednesday, showcasing his intangibles and perfectionism as well, saying it's like "being around greatness every single day."

Harbaugh may be using a bit of hyperbole when discussing Herbert's GOAT status, but there's no doubt the ex-Oregon star is enjoying a great season and realizing the potential he showcased when Los Angeles selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Herbert has a great challenge up ahead now with two-time NFL MVP (and 2024 MVP candidate) Lamar Jackson and the 7-4 Baltimore Ravens rolling into town on Monday evening. A win there would give the Chargers five in a row.

Despite recent speculation about Deion Sanders going to the Dallas Cowboys if Mike McCarthy doesn't return as head coach after this season, Coach Prime isn't looking to leave the college ranks.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 17:20 mark), The Athletic's Dianna Russini said the feeling among people in the NFL right now is that any speculation about Sanders is "all just chit-chat" because he wants to stay at the college level.

Sanders himself dismissed the talk when asked about it during a Tuesday appearance on FS1's Speak with his former Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin.

.@michaelirvin88 asked @DeionSanders about coaching the Cowboys... Watch until the end to see Prime's response 😂 pic.twitter.com/wonYbtDR4H

— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 13, 2024

Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr noted on Thursday there's not much of an appetite right now "for college coaches at the NFL level" and there isn't "any seriousness" to a Sanders-Cowboys pairing.

Jim Harbaugh's success with the Los Angeles Chargers is different because he previously had a successful four-year run with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to '14 before going back to the college ranks at Michigan.

The college environment does seem to suit Sanders' personality much better than the NFL would. He is in control of everything at Colorado and retools the roster every offseason by utilizing the transfer portal as well as any coach in the nation.

Sanders wouldn't have that type of roster freedom and control at the NFL level, especially for a team like the Cowboys with Jerry Jones wanting to make himself the focus at all times.

Colorado is up to No. 17 in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 7-2 record. The Buffaloes' seven wins are their most in a season since 2016 with their final three regular-season games against sub-.500 teams in Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys have lost four straight games that has dropped their record to 3-6. They will look to end the skid on Monday Night Football when they host the Houston Texans.

In an appearance on the "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Jim Harbaugh said that the team does need help at any position before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

In response to a graphic shown by Cowherd questioning the Chargers' need for a wide receiver, Harbaugh made a strong stance on the effectiveness of his current roster.

"No, we don't need that... I can't think of a position right now that we need to upgrade," Harbaugh said (8:25 mark). "I love the guys that are here; love 'em."

The 5-3 Chargers currently rank second to last in total receptions per game with 147 and are among the bottom ten teams in the NFL for total receiving yards, totaling 1,749.

The Chargers lost two of their top three leading receivers this year, Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler and their absence has significantly impacted the team's offensive production.

Rookie Ladd McConkey has been shouldering much of the Chargers receiver weight with 52 targets this season from quarterback Justin Herbert, recording 35 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns.

Ladd so far this season:

-35 Receptions⚡️
-440 Yards⚡️
-4 Tds⚡️
-Only 2 drops!⚡️
-43.1 Win rate vs Man(12th)⚡️ pic.twitter.com/wZESiqjuZf

— McConkeyMuse (@McConkeyMuse) November 4, 2024

Harbaugh mentioned that the decision to bring in any new players would rest heavily on general manager Joe Hortiz.

"If Joe wants somebody and can make us better, then I know he will," Harbaugh said. "All competitors are welcome; Competitors welcome to the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers."

It appears that the Chargers will maintain their current lineup as they host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Los Angeles Chargers star Derwin James Jr. praised the leadership and guidance of head coach Jim Harbaugh with the team starting 5-3 to open the 2024 NFL season.

James described Harbaugh as "like a father away from home" in an interview with The MMQB's Albert Breer.

"Having a coach like that who's experienced, that's been to a Super Bowl, knows what it takes, won a national championship, he's serious about winning," the three-time Pro Bowler said. "Every day, you see it in his message and how his other coaches coach.

"When you got a leader like that leading, you see the team that we have, with the guys we have. You can see the team we're forming over here. Coach Harbaugh's around us to give us that chance."

James went on to say those outside of the Chargers "don't understand the quirkiness" with Harbaugh.

"That's how he's so successful," the veteran safety said. "You may look at him as quirky, but he really loves football. I've never met a coach that loves football as much as coach Harbaugh. He would die for football. He loves it that much."

this energy onlyyy pic.twitter.com/hwV3Y1XE9s

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 3, 2024

From the moment Harbaugh was hired, the question wasn't so much about whether he could trigger an immediate improvement in Los Angeles.

The San Francisco 49ers won 13 games in his first year and were NFC champions the following season. Michigan posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in his first two years after combining for 12 victories in the last two seasons of predecessor Brady Hoke.

The concerns with the 60-year-old is that the "quirkiness," as James described it, might begin to wear on an NFL locker room over time. For all of the success the Niners enjoyed with him as the coach, that's exactly what happened in San Francisco.

Everything is copacetic in Southern California with the Chargers occupying a wild-card place in the AFC. Maybe Harbaugh has changed his demeanor enough to where there won't be a similar unraveling like there was with his 49ers tenure.

Sitting in the final wild card spot in the AFC entering Week 9, the Los Angeles Chargers might be looking to add to their roster before the NFL trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers are described as "window shopping" for potential deals right now where they are comfortably with their current situation but will "consider" any options that might help them get better.

Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has almost quietly coached his unit up to be the best in the NFL by points allowed per game (13.0). The only team that has scored at least 20 points against them was the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.

Their level of competition they have played hasn't been great so far. The Kansas City Chiefs are the only team they've gone up against that ranks higher than 14th in points per game, but they are at least taking care of business against opponents they should be able to beat.

The more pressing issue for the Chargers if they are going to make an in-season move is finding a pass-catcher who can help out Justin Herbert.

After being on the injury report earlier this season due to an ankle injury, Herbert has been back at full strength since Week 6 and has started playing much better. He has thrown for 628 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 66.2 completion percentage in his past two games.

The Chargers' 17 dropped passes this season are tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Ladd McConkey is coming off the best game of his career with 111 yards and two touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints, but another receiver would open things up for the offense.

Per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, the Chargers were among the teams that called the New York Jets about Mike Williams in the aftermath of the Davante Adams trade.

Fowler noted the Jets could decide to hang on to Williams now that Allen Lazard is on injured reserve.

It's unclear how much of a difference Williams could make for the Chargers at this stage of his career, but he does have an already-established connection with Herbert from their four seasons together as teammates from 2020 to '23.

Given the number of wide receivers who have already been traded, the market for that position is shrinking with just a few days remaining before the deadline.

The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Chargers could be 5-3 by that point if they are able to defeat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.

Most people likely don't think of Steve Smith Sr. when they are watching Ladd McConkey.

But Jim Harbaugh isn't most people.

The Los Angeles Chargers head coach sees some of his former teammate when he watches the AFC West club's go-to receiver.

"It's like they both had this ability and this skill to almost look one way and then catch it just a few feet the other way," Harbaugh said, per ESPN's Kris Rhim. "It's really subtle, it's really good."

Jim Harbaugh on Ladd McConkey: pic.twitter.com/MoEF3RqzuJ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 30, 2024

McConkey has a ways to go to reach Smith's level, and he would likely be the first to say as much.

After all, Smith was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection with eight different seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards. One of those seasons was 2005 when he led the NFL in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563) and touchdown catches (12) for a Carolina Panthers team that reached the NFC Championship Game.

Carolina also advanced to the Super Bowl during the 2003 campaign in large part because Smith had 18 catches for 404 yards and three touchdowns in four postseason games.

As for McConkey, the Chargers selected him with a second-round pick this year to bolster a wide receiver room that no longer has Keenan Allen or Mike Williams.

The Georgia product has been solid as a rookie with 30 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns, but he may have turned the corner in Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints. He posted six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a career-best performance that might hint at what's to come.

"He's a complete receiver," Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. "For him to be able to line up inside, outside we've got a true ball player on our hands."

McConkey is clearly earning Herbert's trust and rewarded the signal-caller accordingly in the latest win.

Next up is a showdown against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday where Los Angeles will look to win a second straight game and improve to 5-3 in Harbaugh's first season at the helm.