With mandatory minicamps closing up this week, all that's basically left between now and the start of the 2026 NFL season are actual training camps, which get rolling in a little over a month.
As such, as if there haven't been a ton already during what's been a wild offseason, we're bound to see more and more top-10 lists on just about every topic imaginable as the campaign gets closer, and that naturally includes head coaches.
Not long ago, Pro Football Focus put together their top-10 list, with the Los Angeles Chargers' Jim Harbaugh just sneaking in at No. 10 on the number. And now, the 62-year-old has cracked another such list constructed by Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport, this time coming at No. 8. Here's a quick look at the full list:
- Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
- Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
- Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
- Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
- Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
- Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
- Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
- Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
- Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
- DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
That's certainly some solid company, and Harbaugh has undoubtedly earned his spot on this list after leading the Chargers to a pair of playoff appearances in his two seasons in LaLa Land. But it's safe to say at this point that Bolts fans are ready for more than just an appearance.
Jim Harbaugh has twice led the Chargers to the NFL Playoffs but has yet to win a postseason game
Naturally, in his analysis of why he chose to put Harbaugh in the No. 8 position, Davenport noted the success he had in his four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, going an impressive 44-19-1 during the regular season and leading the Niners to an appearance in Super Bowl 47, where he famously lost to his brother, John, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Now, one could easily assume that one of the reasons he brought that up was to highlight Harbaugh's regular-season success. And there's certainly no getting around the fact that he has been highly successful in that regard, as his .679 career winning percentage at the professional level is good for 10th all-time among those who've served as a head coach for at least 50 NFL games.
And Harbaugh's two seasons with the Bolts thus far have obviously contributed to that figure, as the Chargers have recorded 11 wins in each of the last two years, marking the first time this franchise has tallied double-digit victories in back-to-back campaigns since 2006 and 2007. And with a pair of postseason berths, the Bolts made the playoff bracket in back-to-back years for the first time since doing so four consecutive times from 2006 to 2009.
Again, though, fans are ready for Harbaugh & Co. to take the next step and win a playoff game. To close out the 2024 season, Los Angeles took a lopsided 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans, as Justin Herbert tossed four interceptions. And back in January, of course, the Chargers couldn't even find the end zone in a disheartening 16-3 defeat to the New England Patriots, a loss that dropped Harbaugh's career postseason winning percentage to .500 at 5-5.
Does Harbaugh deserve to be in the top 10 on these lists? Of course. But if the Chargers don't make their way into the playoffs following this upcoming 2026 season and win at least one game, he may not find himself on them a year from now.
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