Jim Harbaugh 'Disappointed' with NFL Suspending Derwin James for Chargers vs. Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is "disappointed" in the NFL's decision to suspend safety Derwin James Jr. for one game for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players," with the capper being a tackle leading to helmet-to-helmet contact on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth last Sunday.

"He genuinely does not want to hurt any other player and the film is Exhibit A," Harbaugh said Wednesday, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

"(The tackles) have been, in my opinion, as I've looked at the tape, exactly what you would want somebody (to do), what the league is trying to get to, which is take the head out of the game. But you can't ever really take the head out of the game because it's in between the two shoulders."

Jon Runyan, the NFL's Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration, had this to say on the matter to James.

James appealed the suspension, but the ruling was upheld by hearing officer Derrick Brooks.

After his team's 20-10 road loss, James was asked about the play, which led to a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.

"Like I said, I don't want to keep the drive going," he told reporters. "I'm trying to get the guy on the ground. I don't feel like I hit him in the head or neck, but we'll look at it."

Per Joe Reedy of the Associated Press, James "has five unnecessary roughness penalties in his last 18 games, the most in the league by a defensive player." In addition, those penalties have all "involved blows to the head of an opponent with his shoulder or helmet."

Before the latest infraction, James was fined five times for a total of $127,792. They were for unnecessary roughness (2018), excessive facemask (2018) and hits to a defenseless receiver (one in 2022, two in 2023).

James is now suspended without pay for one game, costing him $708,333, per Spotrac.

As for Harbaugh, the coach defended the two-time First Team All-Pro on Wednesday, and that follows up his remarks in defense of James on Monday.

"Derwin's going to keep doing Derwin," Harbaugh said, per Popper. "He has found that sweet spot of playing very aggressively and within the rules, all at the same time. That's what I've noticed. And he showed it yesterday. … He's doing everything that he should and can be doing."

Regardless of his stance, James will be out for Week 4, which is an important AFC West matchup against the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.