Jim Harbaugh Says 1st Day of Chargers Training Camp Felt 'Like Being Born'

Los Angeles Chargers first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh is quite excited as the Bolts embark on training camp, so much so that he equated the first day back to "being born" and "coming out of the womb."

Harbaugh just capped a nine-year stint as the head coach of Michigan, his alma mater, with a 15-0 season and a national championship. He's now embarking on a new challenge with the Chargers, who have not made the playoffs since 2018.

Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback who played in the league from 1987-2001, is getting his second crack at coaching a pro team. His first stint was an undeniable success, as he took a previously downtrodden 49ers squad (eight straight non-winning seasons before his arrival) to three consecutive NFC Championships from 2011-2013, winning one. Harbaugh went 44-19-1 in four years in San Francisco before leaving for Michigan.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Harbaugh engineer similar success in L.A. He has a great track record of turning around struggling programs and leading them to victory, with another example including his time at Stanford. Having Justin Herbert under center doesn't hurt.

For now, Harbaugh's optimism appears sky-high as the Bolts prepare for the 2024 season, which begins Sept. 8 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders.