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Jim Harbaugh Names 'Best Safety' He Has Ever Seen Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 8:22 PM ET

Jim Harbaugh, who is now 61 years old, has been involved in football for the majority of his life. He played in the NFL as a quarterback for 14 years and even made the Pro Bowl once in 1995. After his playing career, he got into coaching and eventually became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.

As fans would also know, prior to taking the Los Angeles Chargers' head coaching job in 2024, Harbaugh was in college football with the Michigan Wolverines and even led the team to the national championship.

Harbaugh has certainly seen plenty of great players in his playing and coaching careers. That being said, it speaks volumes to hear him declare a player as the "best" in a position.

That's exactly what he did while talking to the media after the Chargers' 20-9 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday. When discussing safety Derwin James Jr., the veteran head coach gave him the ultimate compliment and called the four-time Pro Bowler "Superman."

"I've called him the best safety I've ever seen in the history of the National Football League," Harbaugh said of James. "I don't think I'm going out on a limb there. Superman. When he puts on the armor, when he puts on that suit and wears that No. 3, I mean, he is donning the cape, he's a Superman out there."

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Sure enough, Jim Harbaugh's major praise of Derwin James Jr. is warranted. The 29-year-old has been one of the faces of a Chargers defense that is among the best in the league through two weeks of action.

In two games played, James has tallied two passes defended, two QB hits, one tackle for loss and 14 combined tackles.

Last season, in Harbaugh's first year as head coach of the Chargers, James recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks, along with seven passes defended, one fumble recovery, six QB hits, 10 tackles for loss and 93 combined tackles.

It remains to be seen if James can maintain his dominant form with the Chargers, but one thing is clear: Harbaugh has all the confidence in the world in him.

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

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