DENVER – After briefly leaving the field in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed to reporters that he experienced atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia characterized by an unusually high heart rate. A flare-up prompted him to seek medical attention.
Harbaugh was treated by paramedics in the locker room, where he underwent an electrocardiogram. Doctors successfully restored his heart to a normal rhythm, allowing him to return to the sidelines later in the first quarter and coach for the rest of the game.
He recounted a previous incident in 2012 while coaching the San Francisco 49ers during a "Monday Night Football" matchup against the Chicago Bears, where he also felt an irregular heartbeat but continued to coach until seeking medical help afterward. At that time, he underwent an ablation—a procedure that uses heat or cold to destroy tissue responsible for the arrhythmia. Harbaugh noted that he had another ablation in 1999. “2-0 with an arrhythmia,” he joked.
During his absence, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over as interim head coach. Interestingly, many players were unaware of Harbaugh's situation during the game. Quarterback Justin Herbert learned of it only when asked by a reporter during his postgame press conference. "He's tough," Herbert said. "He did a really good job of hiding that. I was unaware of it. They did a good job of keeping calm. I hope he's OK. Is he all right?"
Harbaugh explained that he felt discomfort on Saturday night but thought little of it. However, during pregame warmups, he realized his heart was beating irregularly and notified the training staff in the first quarter. While he did not confirm whether he would require another ablation, he noted that the timing of his previous procedures aligned with the possibility of needing one soon. "I haven't felt it since 2012. It hasn't happened, but after the one in '99, I had the procedure again 13 years later. I figured I was getting close to that mark again."
Harbaugh’s brother, John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, was in the midst of his own news conference following a win over the Washington Commanders when he abruptly ended it to check on Jim. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz reached out to John to assure him that Jim had been cleared by doctors and was doing fine.
The Chargers ultimately secured a 23-16 victory over the Broncos, improving their record to 3-2.
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