Jim Harbaugh briefly left the Chargers’ game against the Broncos in the first quarter. Harbaugh explained his exit was due to a heart rhythm abnormality.
“It’s called atrial flutter,” Harbaugh said. “I got into an episode today with it. Doctors checked me out and it got back into a sinus rhythm — normal rhythm — so, I came back.”
Harbaugh entered the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room with team doctors.
“I went back, they did a great job,” he explained. “I had a little treatment, a little I.V. and [Chargers Director of Player Health, Wellness & Performance] Marco [Zucconi] gave me some kind of magnesium thing. They were on it, which was great.”
Harbaugh returned later in the quarter and finished the game on the sidelines. He said this wasn’t the first time he’s dealt with this while coaching.
“I had a couple ablations, one in 1999 and one in 2012,” he said. “I’ll always remember the one in 2012, it was during the Monday night game. Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers versus the Chicago Bears, and Colin had a great night that night. … After the game, got checked out. Ended up having to have an ablation for that one because it didn’t go back into rhythm, but 2-0 with arrhythmias.”
While Harbaugh was being tended to, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was the interim head coach. Minter chose to kick a field goal instead of going for it when the Chargers were at the Broncos’ two-yard line.
After improving to 3-2, Harbaugh and the Bolts face the Cardinals next week on Monday night.