Meet Chris Smith, director of equipment operations for the Los Angeles Chargers. Among many duties this season, his staff’s job description includes something critical: Jim Harbaugh’s pregame locker.
Included in that locker are the coach’s signature khaki slacks, quarterback gloves, official New Era sideline headwear and, of course, the Jordan cleats. The Harbaugh energy, however, originates from the coach himself.
Take for instance Harbaugh’s new pregame routine with quarterback Justin Herbert (play-by-play courtesy of Pat McAfee).
“Herbert didn’t know the new pregame routine,” said McAfee on the Pat McAfee Show Monday, “because he’s going to get his ass beat by Coach Harbaugh. I don’t think he knew that. Alright, OK. He goes in for the hug early. Alright, we’re outta here. No…no. No, no? OK, I’m outta here? No, I am not. Turn around.”
Seeing that video for the first time, running back J.K. Dobbins cried for joy.
“I got tears coming out of my eyes looking at that,” said Dobbins, who had 135 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries in the Chargers’ Week 1 win over Las Vegas Sunday. “That’s who Coach Jim is, man; he’s going to get you right. He’s loves Justin, too; he’s going to get him right. And I love that. I didn’t see it in person but when I just saw that, man.”
Harbaugh loves Dobbins as well. Those emotions were on the coach’s face in his postgame reaction to winning his first NFL game. And how can anyone not love Dobbins? He helped his new team to an AFC West win after three consecutive season-ending injuries. Dobbins never gave up hope.
“I was never in doubt about coming back,” Dobbins said. “The one injury, the knee injury I had (in 2021), it lingered so long that people thought I had a whole bunch of injuries. I really only had two major injuries, Achilles and knee. Look, I’m young. I’m 25. I ain’t done yet.
“Unfortunately, injuries, they sat me down but I think those are over with now. It’s time for the world to see who I really am as a player.”
Dobbins and Harbaugh are both back in the NFL, with an exclamation point. They take their energy on the road against Carolina (0-1) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).