Published October 12, 2026 12:34 PM
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is prone to hyperbole.
Whether or not he was giving some of that after Sunday’s loss to the Broncos is up for interpretation. But Harbaugh did go to extremes when discussing his decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Los Angeles 41 while up 17-10 with 10:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Justin Herbert got stuffed on his run for a turnover on downs. Denver scored a touchdown to tie it, and then two field goals on their next two possessions to win it the game.
“I can’t think of a time where I’ve been more mad at myself,” Harbaugh said postgame, via Anthony Gharib of ESPN. “This team works so hard, played so valiantly. And yeah, I take 100% accountability for making that decision and turned the momentum of the game. So it was the wrong one, and I got to be right on those.”
Harbaugh added that the Chargers displayed positive characteristics, but the loss is on him for that choice.
“Really right now the only thing I can think of is I screwed that up, that’s really the only thing going through my mind,” Harbaugh said. “Because the playmaking, the stops, the momentum was in our favor. And yeah, wrong decision. Both of them. When they don’t work, that’s my accountability.”
The Chargers will go to Kansas City next week, looking to avoid a 0-6 start before their Week 7 bye.
Harbaugh is searching for answers.
“Yeah, I don’t know what that message is,” Harbaugh said. “The players just fight their hearts out, play, give it everything they have. That’s the only way, that’s the best way.”