Jim Harbaugh Reveals Health Scare That Caused Him To Leave Sideline

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said an "atrial flutter" episode caused him to miss the beginning of Sunday's (October 13) win against the Denver Broncos .

"I am medically qualified to talk about it," Harbaugh said during his postgame press conference via Alex Insdorf .

Harbaugh claims he had previously experienced a similar episode during a Monday Night Football game while coaching the San Francisco 49ers, claiming he was "2-0 with arrythmias."

Harbaugh returned to the team's sideline in the first quarter after leaving before kickoff due to what the Chargers reported was an "illness."

"injury update: HC Jim Harbaugh (illness) is questionable to return. DC Jesse Minter is serving as interim HC," the team wrote on its X account during Harbaugh's absence.

Harbaugh, 60, was hired by the Chargers weeks after leading his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to a College Football Playoff National Championship in January. Los Angeles has gone 3-2 in its first five games, with Sunday's win ending a two-game losing skid to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs before last week's bye.

The former Michigan quarterback went 86-25 (60-17) during nine seasons at his alma mater, which included winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles. Harbaugh previously went 44-19 as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, which included making the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons, making a Super Bowl XLVII appearance in his second season, before being fired in 2014 after an 8-8 season.