Jim Harbaugh was quick to give credit to the players and claimed he was “drinking the Kool-Aid” after the Chargers clinched a playoff spot. The Chargers’ blowout win over the Patriots meant Harbaugh not only collected a hefty paycheck but made history as well, repeating his success from his stint with the 49ers. But he will have something to say to two of his players, who got fined more than $15,000 by the NFL.

The league has come up with the fines for the Week 16 games. After carefully reviewing the 2,566 plays, the league has fined 23 plays, 0.9% of all plays. In Week 16, the Chargers saw off the Broncos 34-27 to move within a win of the playoffs. But that game also had some contentious moments with two of the Chargers players fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness.

AT the 7:58 mark in the first quarter, the Broncos RB Blake Watson was rushing ahead with the ball, but the Chargers FS Tony Jefferson came running ahead and collided with him with his helmet, pushing him out of the sidelines. Referees threw the flag, resulting in a 3-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. As a result, the NFL has fined him $6,722.

The Chargers signed veteran safety Jefferson in June after he spent the previous season as a scouting intern for the Baltimore Ravens, having announced his retirement in May 2023. Jefferson has played seven games this season and has made 24 total tackles. Meanwhile, his teammate was handed an even bigger fine

At halftime, the Broncos had taken a 21-13 lead. So, the Chargers wanted to keep the possession. At the 11:33 mark in the third quarter, Bo Nix made a 5-yard pass to the TE Nate Adkins. First, safety Derwin James tried to tackle him, but the TE maneuvered and marched ahead. However, LB Tuli Tuipulotu tackled him. He was jubilant, even hyping up the crowd with his right fist up in the air.

The referees didn’t have any flags in the game, but the league officials had a different view. They fined the LB $8,297 under unnecessary roughness for using his helmet during the tackle. Tuipulotu has been a key asset for the Chargers this season under Harbaugh, averaging 8.5 sacks in 16 games, and has 42 total tackles to his name. Meanwhile, three Broncos players were fined for their actions in the December 19 clash.

Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was fined $12,668 for a horse-collar tackle on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the fourth quarter. Rookie running back Blake Watson, playing just his second game of the season was fined $4,463 for unnecessary roughness in the first quarter. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach was also fined $11,2255 for taunting in the second quarter.

This isn’t also the first time that the Chargers players have been on the receiving end of the NFL’s punishment. Following their Week 11 win against the Bengals, Derwin James was fined $16,883 for his horse collar tackle against Bengals running back Chase Brown and was suspended for a game. In the same game, defensive tackle, Otito Ogbonnia was fined $5,915 for his roughing-the-passer hit on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

The Chargers may be a little light in the purse, but the franchise is in a healthy place. With 10 wins and 6 losses after week 17, they have already secured a playoff berth. With the win over the Patriots, Harbaugh became the first coach in the Super Bowl era to lead two teams that had losing records the year before he arrived and take them to the playoffs in his first season. He did the same with the 49ers during his stint there from 2011-2014.

With this achievement, the head coach bagged a $1 million paycheck as well.

Jim Harbaugh clinches a $1 million paycheck

As per Adam Schefter’s update and the terms of his contract, by clinching a wild-card spot today, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh collects a $1 million playoff bonus in his contract. Harbaugh signed a five-year deal with the Chargers this offseason valued at $16 million annually.

“This had very little to do with me,” Harbaugh said after the Chargers secured a playoff spot. “If it goes right, it’s our players. They’ve been doing a great job … I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid here from day one.” Notably, Harbaugh earned $3 million in bonuses during the 2023 season, including $1 million in January for leading the Wolverines to their first national title since 1997.

He had achieved significant success in the NFL during his previous NFL stint with the 49ers. In 4 years, Jim Harbaugh took them to playoffs thrice, including a Super Bowl appearance against the Ravens in 2012, which they lost. This time, he might want to change the outcome with the Chargers.

However, there is a long way to go. The Chargers have the talent to defeat their rivals. However, the HC needs to review the game tape carefully. They lost two games to the Chiefs and once to the Steelers and the Ravens. All these three teams are also in the postseason. So, they would need to come up with their best performance in the playoffs.