LOS ANGELES CHARGERS HEAD COACH JIM HARBAUGH
Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Q. What happened to you guys offensively?
JH: Yeah, we weren’t good enough. Didn’t get enough points sustaining the drives. Left our defense out on the field too much in terms of time of possession. Yeah, just wasn’t our night.
Q. Anything specifically offensively you can point to that wasn’t good enough?
JH: No, I — I really don’t have the answers. I wish I did. If I did there would’ve been a different result. But that I am going to be spending — we’ll be spending a lot of hard work and maybe even sleepless nights getting it figured out. The way these players fight, the way they just give it their very best, their all, you know, we’ll owe them that and get on. Like I told the team, those that stay will be champions. Not looking at this as an end but as another beginning.
Q. Jim, what do you think of the way Justin played?
JH: Warrior. Doing anything and everything he could to move our team and get us in the end zone.
Q. You feel like it was up to his usual standard of play?
JH: I do. He just gives it everything he has all the time.
Q. Do you feel like — you guys in your two playoff games you guys (indiscernible) scored a touchdown, offense past two seasons. Do you think that Greg is the right person to be calling plays as coordinator?
JH: Yeah, right now I don’t have the answers as I said. We’re going to look at that, at everything. It really falls on me that we wasn’t at our best tonight. I don’t have the answers. I wish I did. We’ll work hard. It’ll be a new beginning.
Q. When you say look at, you mean specifically look at…
JH: Everything on our team.
Q. If Greg is the right person to be calling plays?
JH: I don’t have that answer right now. I know you’re being very specific. We weren’t good enough as a team. That’s what we do. We win as a team and we lose as a team that’s my responsibility to have the team in a better position.
Q. Can you expand on what you said about…
JH: And a lot of it is the Patriots, too. Not going to sit here and say — the Patriots played very well and they did a great job. I want to congratulate them. Not be one of those coaches that stands up here and says that they — call it what it is. I mean, they played extremely well.
Q. When it ends abruptly like this, what was your message to your team after this?
JH: That. That was the message. We will get it done.
Q. Jim, how much was the turning point in the first quarter…
JH: Yeah. Yeah, just couldn’t get it in the end zone. That was — turned out to be really our best shot of the night to score that touchdown.
Q. Why did you decide to go for it there, something you hadn’t really done before this season?
JH: We’ve gone for some fourth downs.
Q. One other time. Second time. I can…
JH: No, I mean, looking back on it, you don’t get it, that would’ve been three more points where we got zero. But had we gotten it, it would’ve been — we would’ve just needed one touchdown at the end of the game. Probably would’ve been kicking myself had I not done it and gone for it and taken that opportunity, taken that chance. Felt like that was the right thing to do. You know, didn’t get it in.
Q. Was there something specific about this game and opponent this led you to be more aggressive in that situation?
JH: That’s our analytics, was to go for it in that situation. Yeah, you know, playing it out, it’s not the right decision because you didn’t score the touchdown. Yeah, I would — in the same situation, you know, got to take your shot.
Q. Over the last few weeks Patriots have gotten a little more healthy on defense. Couple of their better guys played. Today just seemed like they played their best game of the year, their defense. Not a lot seemed open. Got a little pressure. Stopped the run game for the most part. Can you talk about the Patriots’ defense what you saw coming in and what you saw today?
JH: Yeah, they were a big factor. That was a heck of a performance by them. They were able to get the stops, third down, red zone. You know, played really good situational. Played really good coverage. There was some that — you know, some could have gone either way there and they were able to make the play. But, yeah, congratulate them. It was heck of a game.
Q. How do you feel like your defense played overall?
JH: Yeah, I thought our defense played well. I mean, there was — you know, it’s been a strength for us all year. Opportunistic again, got the turnovers, weren’t able to capitalize. But I thought they played well, like they always do. They just fight and play their hearts out like our entire team does, every man on the roster.
Q. You called Justin a warrior. Was the hand an issue today?
JH: Yeah, it’s an issue. It’s an issue. But, yeah — he doesn’t flinch. He’s just like a warrior would.
Q. Coach, can you talk about your relationship with Mike Vrabel and what you saw from his game plan?
Q. Can you talk about your relationship with Mike Vrabel?
JH: Yeah, professional relationship, and nothing but respect. Thought they did a heck of a job.