Since the day Jim Harbaugh signed on as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers ahead of the 2024 NFL season, it’s been clear he wouldn’t be just another face in the coaching crowd. Known for his unorthodox methods and unapologetically passionate approach, Harbaugh hasn’t followed the league’s playbook on how to operate—and that streak continued with his unconventional structure for the team’s rookie minicamp last weekend.
Rather than running traditional 11-on-11 sessions, Harbaugh introduced a more segmented, individualized system aimed at isolating raw talent and physical potential. The approach, which he’s never used before, marks a notable departure from the norm.
“Rare gems, they don’t just hop out of the ground and into your pocket,” Harbaugh told LA Times reporter Thuc Nhi Nguyen in an interview outlining the strategy. “You gotta dig.”
Jim Harbaugh taking a new approach to evaluating Los Angeles Chargers’ rookie talent
The revamped structure involved teaching five key drills per rookie: two based on the Chargers’ offensive or defensive systems, and three that were position-specific. Each drill was filmed, giving coaches a controlled, side-by-side look at how each player performed. The goal, according to Harbaugh, is to separate football IQ from raw ability in a way that 11-on-11 settings often fail to do.
“Picture a 90-minute meeting to go over offense and defense, and then go out on the field,” Harbaugh said. “Then we’re judging who learned the system better. But we’re not seeing the capabilities, what they have talent-wise.”
This drill-focused evaluation provides a clearer lens on athleticism and positional fundamentals—metrics that can get lost in the fast-paced, often chaotic nature of full-team drills. While 11-on-11 settings offer insight into a player’s ability to process and execute within a game-like scenario, Harbaugh’s method attempts to strip away the noise and highlight pure talent.
Still, the method isn’t without its trade-offs. Full-team reps are crucial for identifying which players can stay mentally sharp and execute under pressure. Without that element, coachability and adaptability might be harder to assess—factors that often separate NFL contributors from roster bubble players.
In essence, position drills highlight who can shine in isolation; 11-on-11 reveals who can thrive in chaos. Harbaugh appears to be betting on his coaching staff’s ability to take care of the latter once the former is properly identified.
That trust in his staff speaks volumes. If Harbaugh believes this stripped-down system better uncovers potential, it also implies confidence that his coaches can handle the complexities of development—from mental processing to in-game execution.
The Chargers have recent precedent for early rookie success. In 2024, the team saw strong contributions from first-year players like Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey, Tarheeb Still, and Cam Hart. Harbaugh’s overhaul of minicamp evaluations suggests he intends to continue that trend in 2025—and believes the path to identifying impact rookies begins not with full-contact chaos, but with precision and clarity.
At the end of the day, Harbaugh isn’t trying to win minicamp headlines. He’s trying to build a roster—one gem at a time.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Chargers YouTube Channel