Derwin James has been a special player since the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him in 2018. With four All-Pro selections and four Pro Bowls, his resume speaks for itself. However, he also has a head coach who isn’t shy about reminding the world how great he is. Jim Harbaugh has been James’ biggest fan since taking over as head coach in 2024.
While Harbaugh is always effusive in his praise for James, he took things to another level on Wednesday. Reminding everyone that he said James is the best safety he’s ever been around, the head coach took it a step further and said the veteran defender is actually the best football player he’s ever been around.
Taking into account what James does on the field, and in the locker room, Harbaugh says the only player he can compare him to is Junior Seau.
the biggest compliment 🥹 pic.twitter.com/oVjok5w2Nz
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 24, 2025
Jim Harbaugh compares Derwin James to Junior Seau, calling him the best football player he’s ever seen
A comparison to Seau carries a lot of weight in the NFL world, especially for Chargers fans. The late linebacker was born in San Diego, attended USC, and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the fifth-overall pick in 1990.
The hometown hero carved out an amazing legacy with the Chargers, making nine All-Pro teams and 12 Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons in San Diego. A member of the Chargers Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seau also was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1994.
Harbaugh was Seau’s teammate in San Diego for two seasons in 1999 and 2000, so he understands the weight of this comparison. Emphasizing the stat line that you can’t see, Harbaugh expressed, “the iron wall that negativity bashes against: Derwin James.
Same with Junior Seau.
Same energy, same love of the game and all-out effort.” Experiencing both guys, the head coach said they are just a different kind of players from everyone else.
That's a huge compliment to both Seau and James, and Chargers fans are lucky to have had both of the elite defenders play for the franchise.