Jim Harbaugh Facing Backlash For Justifying Chargers’ Illegal Hit

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made it clear that he was "disappointed" with the NFL's decision to suspend safety Derwin James for his illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Fans on social media didn't necessarily disagree. But fans took issue with Harbaugh's explanation for why the safety should have avoided discipline from the league.

"There was not a defenseless player, changed his course, and I thought that Derwin's helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth," Harbaugh told reporters, via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith . "I thought that caused his head to make the contact, and I though the contact was first with the forearm, then the shoulder, then the head."

The biggest problem many X (formerly Twitter) users had with that response was the blame Harbaugh placed on Freiermuth.

"A guy who is trying to defend himself from a player who launched himself head first at said player actually caused the high impact point, Jim??," wrote Ben Anderson.

"My response to Harbaugh, for the record," wrote Steelers Depot's Alex Kozora . "lol no."

Several fans argued that Freiermuth's stiff arm in no way changed the direction of James' head on the play.

"That ain't a stiff arm," wrote Born Black'n Gold . "That's an attempt by 88 to limit the impact of the hit."

"He comes in straight for the helmet," wrote Russell Brooks . "His arm does not alter the trajectory."

Others pointed to Harbaugh's questionable ethics in the past. Harbaugh missed six games last season while coaching at Michigan due to multiple suspensions .

"He's bringing to the NFL the same level of integrity he had in college," wrote Trent Ging .

James received a 15-yard penalty for the hit he delivered on Freiermuth. The NFL also suspended James for the Chargers' Week 4 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.