Jim Harbaugh Already Making Major Changes with Los Angeles Chargers

Throughout the offseason, the Chargers have acted like an organization aiming to become a more physical football team, especially by allowing star wide receiver Mike Williams to walk via free agency and trading Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears.

JIm Harbaugh Leading a New Los Angeles Chargers Era

While a wholesale makeover of quarterback Justin Herbert’s supporting cast is a sea-change in terms of the type of football team the Chargers have been in the past, Harbaugh is also changing the way Los Angeles conducts business on and off the field.

NFL Network’s Bridget Condon covered a recent Chargers OTA practice, and noticed a completely different vibe now that the former University of Michigan head coach is calling the shots.

“There was no music,” she said. “In every other Chargers practice that I’ve been to before without Jim Harbaugh, they played a lot of music. So that’s an interesting note. … [There was an] emphasis on conditioning. The last 10 minutes of practice we watched them do sled pulls. They were doing medicine ball carries.”

In the past, former college head coaches such as Chip Kelly were among the first to use loud music during practices, but Harbaugh’s approach is a stark contrast.

It remains to be seen whether Harbaugh can distinguish himself from the disappointment from past college-turned-NFL head coaches such as Kelly, Steve Spurrier and others who never found sustained success. But, Harbaugh’s track record having previously led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl should inspire confidence for a Chargers franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2018 and made just one postseason appearance since.