Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh Disappointed by NFL Suspension of Derwin James

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh expressed his disappointment on Wednesday regarding the NFL’s decision to suspend safety Derwin James Jr. for the upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The suspension stems from an incident involving Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during the third quarter of Los Angeles’ recent 20-10 defeat. James was penalized for unnecessary roughness during that game, drawing scrutiny for his hit on Freiermuth.

Harbaugh defended James, emphasizing that it was Freiermuth’s positioning that contributed to the nature of the hit. He argued that there was no defenseless player in this situation, pointing out that Freiermuth altered his trajectory just before the contact was made.

“There was not a defenseless player; he changed his course, and I thought that Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth,” Harbaugh stated. “The initial contact was with the forearm, then the shoulder, and finally, the head.”

In Harbaugh’s view, James executed a tackle that aligned with the league’s emphasis on reducing head injuries. He remarked on the ongoing challenges players face, explaining how the head is invariably involved in tackling despite efforts to mitigate helmet contact.

“You can never really take the head out of the game because it’s in between the two shoulders,” he said, highlighting the complexities of tackling in modern football. “Derwin is doing his best to tackle with his shoulders and avoid contact with the head.”

Since entering the league in 2018, James has been flagged for unnecessary roughness seven times, the second-highest total among players within that timeframe. Harbaugh noted that James has actively worked to minimize such penalties, sometimes choosing to give up extra yardage rather than risk infraction.

“He has reached out on his own to officials this past summer to better understand how they want it done,” Harbaugh remarked. “The evidence is right there in the tape. He is going out of his way to avoid injuring other players or making illegal hits.”

Harbaugh appreciated James’ intentions, stating that the safety genuinely does not want to harm anyone and he holds no grudge against him for the incident.

The NFL’s announcement, however, presented a different perspective. Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations, indicated that video evidence showed James had lowered his head during the hit, resulting in forcible helmet contact that could have been avoided. Runyan emphasized that repeated violations of safety rules would not be tolerated.

“Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated,” Runyan stated. “Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety, particularly when these violations come with significant risks of injury to opponents.”

James appealed the suspension, but the decision was upheld by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who was jointly appointed by both the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association.

In light of James’ suspension, the Chargers’ secondary will need to adapt, as their backup safeties include Elijah Molden and AJ Finley. Molden recently made an impactful play, securing an interception that earned him a game ball during the Chargers’ Week 2 victory over the Carolina Panthers.