Jim Harbaugh missed part of the Chargers game because of treatment for an irregular heartbeat

DENVER – Jim Harbaugh listened to his heart when he felt a little unwell during pregame warmups.

The Los Angeles Chargers coach went to the medical tent and then to the locker room during the first quarter on Sunday to be checked for an irregular heartbeat. An EKG showed that his heart was back in normal rhythm and he returned to the sidelines with his team, which was already 3-0 up.

His team left no chance in their 23:16 victory over the Denver Broncos. In fact, his quarterback, Justin Herbert, didn't even know he wasn't on the sideline. His brother certainly did, as Baltimore coach John Harbaugh cut short his postgame press conference after a win over Washington to check on his brother.

“Everything was fine in the end,” said Jim Harbaugh, who received IV fluids. “The doctors examined me and everything returned to normal. So came back.

“It’s the heart, so you take it seriously.”

Harbaugh said he has been suffering from atrial flutter, a condition that can cause the heart to beat too fast, for some time. In 1999, he underwent ablation to treat the cardiac arrhythmia. He also had another in 2012 when he coached the San Francisco 49ers. He remembers the event well because it came after a Monday night game in which Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 32-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Harbaugh said he had not experienced another episode until this weekend.

“I felt it last night, but I wasn’t really sure,” Harbaugh said. “Just like in 2012, it was during the warm-up before the game – I started to feel something.”

Harbaugh tried to interject some humor – “2-0 on cardiac arrhythmias,” he quipped.

Herbert was surprised by the news that his coach had left the sideline – or that something was wrong. However, he said Harbaugh mentioned something about his health Saturday night.

“He said he was really excited about the game. He said his blood was flowing and he was excited,” said Herbert, who completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. “I thought everything was fine. This is definitely something he should get checked out. He’s a tough guy though.”

Harbaugh said that while he was in the locker room, medical staff took his pulse and performed an EKG.

“Trust the doctors. “If you don’t trust your doctors, who are you going to trust?” he said. “I came back to the locker room and the paramedics came and did an EKG and said it was back to (normal) sinus rhythm and I said, 'I'm fine.' I went back on the field.”

Harbaugh plans to see his cardiologist on Monday.

When he left the sideline early in the game, the Chargers characterized his absence as an illness. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took charge until Harbaugh returned midway through the first quarter and the Chargers took a 3-0 lead and were heading for another score. The Chargers took a 23-0 lead in the second half before the Broncos took a lead late.

“It was a great and glorious victory for the team,” Harbaugh said. “Really proud of our team, happy. They play good football, on offense, defense and special teams, four quarters of the time.

“I felt great about it.”

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