Coach Harbaugh’s Heart Scare: Atrial Flutter Causes Brief Absence
Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh revealed on Sunday that he has been living with atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to beat at an abnormally high rate. During the team’s win against the Denver Broncos, Harbaugh experienced a flare-up that forced him to seek medical attention.
A Quick Response from the Medical Team
In the first quarter, Harbaugh left the field and headed to the locker room, where paramedics treated him. An electrocardiogram scan was performed, and eventually, his heart was restored to a normal rhythm. Harbaugh returned to the game later in the quarter and coached the remainder of the contest.
Not His First Experience with Atrial Flutter
This was not Harbaugh’s first encounter with atrial flutter. In 2012, while coaching the San Francisco 49ers, he experienced a similar episode during a game against the Chicago Bears. He underwent an ablation procedure, which uses heat or cold to destroy heart tissue causing an irregular heartbeat. Harbaugh also had an ablation in 1999.
Players Unaware of Harbaugh’s Absence
While Harbaugh was out, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over as interim head coach. However, many players were unaware of Harbaugh’s absence or his heart issue. Quarterback Justin Herbert found out about the situation during his post-game news conference and expressed concern for his coach’s well-being.
Harbaugh’s History with Atrial Flutter
Harbaugh noted that he felt discomfort on Saturday night but didn’t think much of it. However, during pre-game warmups, he realized his heart was beating irregularly and notified the training staff in the first quarter. He didn’t say whether he would need another ablation but mentioned that the timing of his previous procedures suggests he may be due for another one.
Support from Family and Team
Harbaugh’s brother John, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, was in the middle of his news conference when he abruptly ended it to check on Jim. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz reached out to John to let him know that doctors had cleared Jim and he was okay. The Chargers went on to beat the Broncos 23-16, improving their record to 3-2.
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