Getty Image / Grant Halverson
Jim Harbaugh is always full of great one-liners and quips about football. The quirky coach is someone whose press conferences have to be paid attention to.
That proved to be true once again on Wednesday, when the first-year Los Angeles Chargers faced the media and was asked about the suspension of superstar safety Derwin James.
Last week was a tough week for Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers. After a 2-0 start, the team was tied with the undefeated Steelers 10-10 midway through the third quarter but started to fall apart. Quarterback Justin Herbert reaggravated his ankle injury, star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt got hurt, and the team had negative yards of total offense in the second half and eventually lost, 20-10.
As if those injuries weren’t enough to worry about for Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, they’re going to be without superstar safety Derwin James in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL suspended James after repeatedly breaking player safety rules with vicious hits.
Here’s the hit that earned #Chargers S Derwin James a one-game suspension for repeat violations of the NFL’s safety rules.
“The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact. … Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated.” pic.twitter.com/2KUxc25zrm
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2024
That is one of just many hits that ultimately led the league office to take action against Derwin James. The three-time All-Pro selection will not play against Kansas City this weekend.
Naturally, Jim Harbaugh was asked about the suspension at his press availability and had a great one-liner about it. Check it out.
Jim Harbaugh with another legendary Harbaughism talking about Derwin James suspension
“YOU CAN NEVER REALLY TAKE THE HEAD OUT OF THE GAME BECAUSE IT'S IN BETWEEN THE TWO SHOULDERS.”
😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/YaFHXCKHyM— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 26, 2024
He’s not wrong, and that’s a classic Jim Harbaugh one-liner.
This year, he’s already said he ties whether he takes his wife on a date to practice performance, and waxed poetically about people who love football. This is just another great quip from Jim Harbaugh.