Current:Home > MarketsJim Harbaugh goes through first offseason program as head coach of Los Angeles Chargers -FundSphere
Jim Harbaugh goes through first offseason program as head coach of Los Angeles Chargers
View
Date:2025-04-23 07:50:33
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talked at the NFL scouting combine about how excited he was for April 2. On Tuesday, the date finally arrived.
The Chargers, Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons were the first teams to kick off phrase one of their offseason programs on Tuesday.
Harbaugh likened the occasion to the first day of school.
“It’s a great day. It’s a great day for football, for meetings and training for a lot of baseline training,” Harbaugh said. “It feels like there’s a new lift and energy in the building... It was a good first day.”
USA TODAY Sports was in attendance for the first day of the Chargers’ voluntary offseason program under Harbaugh. Here are the biggest takeaways:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
'Lively' opening day
Phase one of NFL offseason workouts consists of meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation. Harbaugh didn't specify if the Chargers had full attendance on Tuesday, but franchise pillars such as quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Derwin James were in the building, per the team’s social media page.
“We got right into football, putting the schemes in offensively and defensively, and baseline training,” (Chargers executive director of player performance) Ben Herbert is huge in this phase,” Harbaugh said. “Just finding out where everybody is. Where is their baseline and where do they need improvement on.”
The offense and defense conducted separate meetings.
“It was lively. We’re teaching different schemes,” Harbaugh said of the two meetings. “It was good. I thought our coaches did a great job in the offensive meetings and the same with the defensive meetings. We’ll have special teams meetings starting (Wednesday).”
'Best damn job'
Harbaugh’s a seasoned head coach with head coaching jobs at San Diego (2004–2006), Stanford (2007–2010), San Francisco 49ers (2011–2014) and Michigan (2015–2023) before being hired by the Chargers in January. He’s had success at every stop along the way including a Super Bowl 47 appearance with the 49ers and a 2023 NCAA national title at Michigan. But Harbaugh professed the Chargers have left the best initial impression.
“This has been the best damn job I’ve ever had to start off with,” Harbaugh said. “I hope it ends that way, but it’s been a tremendous start. I’m excited about the coaching staff and the amount of work that’s been produced over the last month and a half.”
Positions of need?
Cornerback Kristian Fulton, linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive lineman Poona Ford, center Bradley Bozeman and running back Gus Edwards are five of the biggest free agent additions by the Chargers.
The five players figure to have an impact on a Chargers squad that finished 5-12 last year. When Harbaugh was asked if the Chargers have any positions of need, the coach said he’s still in the process of making that assessment.
“Just finding that out,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a great opportunity to find that out.”
Wide receiver is a spot the Chargers are thin at after the team lost their top two pass catchers this offseason when Keenan Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears and Mike Williams was released and subsequently signed with the New York Jets.
Los Angeles owns the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft and could target a wideout. LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers is taking a top 30 visit with the Chargers on Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to discuss the matter.
MOCK DRAFT: Four QBs go in top four picks thanks to projected trade
Play with physicality
Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst, who played for Harbaugh’s older brother John in Baltimore, said his initial takeaway from the offseason program is the Chargers are going to play a physical brand of football.
“From what I’m understanding in the first round of the meetings, that’s the mantra of this place. We’re gonna be physical (and) we’re gonna come at you,” Hurst said. “When you see us pop up on the schedule, it’s gonna be a long Sunday.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
veryGood! (21212)
Related
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Conn's HomePlus now closing all stores: See the full list of locations
- Did Katie Ledecky win? How she finished in 800 freestyle
- Judge overturns $4.7 billion jury award to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- After Trump’s appearance, the nation’s largest gathering of Black journalists gets back to business
- Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent Details Terrifying Pregnancy Health Scare That Left Her Breathless
- French pharmacies are all the rage on TikTok. Here's what you should be buying.
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event Unveils Star Wars, Marvel & More Collections: An Exclusive First Look
Ranking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Swimmer Tamara Potocka collapses after a women’s 200-meter individual medley race at the Olympics
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge was briefly closed when a nearby ship had a steering problem
- 2024 Olympics: Sha'Carri Richardson Makes Epic Comeback 3 Years After Suspension
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- North Dakota voters will decide whether to abolish property taxes
- 'Depraved monster': Ex-FBI agent, Alabama cop sentenced to life in child sex-abuse case
- AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Missouri’s state primaries
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Heat deaths of people without air conditioning, often in mobile homes, underscore energy inequity
Kate Douglass 'kicked it into high gear' to become Olympic breaststroke champion
Appeals court: Separate, distinct minority groups can’t join together to claim vote dilution
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Caged outside for 4 years: This German Shepherd now has a loving home
D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event Unveils Star Wars, Marvel & More Collections: An Exclusive First Look
Analysis: Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris’ race shows he doesn’t understand code-switching