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Jim Harbaugh Makes 'Really Good' Pete Carroll Acknowledgement Before Chargers-Raiders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lorenzo J. Reyna | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 8:00 PM ET

The Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll rivalry adds its third chapter on Sunday. This time with the head coaches leading the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.

Both leaders delivered epic and much-discussed moments at the college level -- especially when Harbaugh's Stanford team routed Carroll's USC 55-21 in 2009. Then the two created a heated NFC West rivalry involving the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Which includes the 2013 season conference title game won by Carroll's Seahawks.

Will both men exchange pleasantries or avoid one another before and after the Monday contest? Harbaugh surprisingly made a "really good" acknowledgement of his past rival Wednesday.

What Jim Harbaugh Said About Pete Carroll Ahead of Week 2

Harbaugh shared this stunning revelation via Chargers insider for The Athletic Daniel Popper.

"Jim Harbaugh said he and Pete Carroll would have been 'really good friends' if they had ever been on same team, either when Harbaugh was a player or in his early coaching career," Popper shared via X (formerly Twitter).

Harbaugh, though, then dropped a blunt take on the real relationship between he and Carroll.

"Alas, we have been on opposite sides," Harbaugh said, "So I'm not on his Christmas card list."

Carroll likely has the memories of his past battles with Harbaugh in mind for this weekend. ESPN cameras will likely become fixated on any pregame interaction between the two legendary head coaches before the Monday Night Football showdown in Las Vegas.

Carroll and Harbaugh started the 2025 season already in victorious fashion. The latter coach guided the 27-21 upset of the rival Kansas City Chiefs down in Brazil to kick off the year. The 73-year-old Carroll guided Vegas to the 20-13 road win over the New England Patriots.

Harbaugh's Bolts swept last season's regular season series, winning 22-10 in the 2024 opener and then 34-20 inside Allegiant Stadium to close the year. And seal the fate of former Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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