Chargers' Harbaugh to have heart, hip surgery this offseason

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh will undergo cardiac ablation and hip replacement surgery this offseason, he said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim.

Cardiac ablation is a procedure for treating irregular heartbeats. Harbaugh briefly left the sidelines of the Chargers' victory over the Denver Broncos in October due to an "atrial flutter."

After the contest, Harbaugh said he dealt with the same issue during a game when he was the San Francisco 49ers' head coach. The 61-year-old added that he spoke with a cardiologist the following week and got good feedback from the doctor.

"Got some test results back. 'The heart of an athlete' is the direct quote from my cardiologist. So, that made me feel good," he told reporters. Harbaugh wore a heart monitor and took blood thinners for two weeks following the incident.

The Chargers earned a playoff spot with an 11-6 record in their first year under Harbaugh, rebounding from a 5-12 season in 2023.