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Jim Harbaugh Sends Strong Message on Trey Lance After Chargers' Preseason Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 12:16 PM ET

The Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio officially kicked off the 2025–26 NFL season on Thursday night, featuring a preseason matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions.

From the opening kickoff—when the Lions fumbled—it was all Chargers. Los Angeles capitalized on the early momentum and cruised to a 34–7 win, led by former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. Lance is currently battling veteran Taylor Heinicke for the backup quarterback job behind starter Justin Herbert.

Lance played the majority of the game, completing 13-of-20 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh eventually pulled Lance late in the second half and put in undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei.

After the game, Harbaugh had high praise for Lance, who is looking to rebuild his confidence and possibly earn a second chance as a starter down the line—though likely not in L.A. as long as Herbert is entrenched as the franchise quarterback.

“Big night for Trey,” Harbaugh said. “Played calm, played cool, played collected, ran the operation, I thought he threw the ball really well. Big night for him."

He added: “He hasn’t had a lot of game experience, and that’s what we’re trying to give him, and he acquitted himself well.”

Trey Lance’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Coming out of North Dakota State, he was viewed as one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft—an unproven quarterback with immense raw talent, perhaps the highest ceiling of any first-rounder, but also the lowest floor.

In 2022, Lance finally got his shot as the 49ers’ starting quarterback, but a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 derailed that opportunity. That same year, seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy broke out and played so well that San Francisco had no choice but to stick with him, leaving Lance as the odd man out.

After spending two seasons as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys, Lance signed a one-year deal worth approximately $6.2 million with the Chargers—now hoping to revive his career in a system led by Jim Harbaugh.

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

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