It’s complicated! That’s what we might as well call the relationship between Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith since the 60-year-old became the San Francisco 49ers HC in 2011. But now that he’s coming back to the NFL as the LA Chargers HC, his former QB has something to say about him. 

The two former 49ers may not have shared the best relationship while they were together because it was Jim Harbaugh who benched Smith and chose Colin Kaepernick over him as the starting QB. However, the two have maintained a friendly and respectful connection since then. Coming from someone who had seen the good and bad side of Harbaugh, Alex Smith’s heads up to Justin Fields and the Chargers is noteworthy. 

Alex Smith gets real on his past with Jim Harbaugh 

Retired NFL QB Alex Smith shared his views on Jim Harbaugh as he steps into his new role as the Chargers’ HC. Amidst suffering a dismal career and personal challenges when he first met Jim Harbaugh, the former 49ers player credited his ex-HC for his career molding. He said, “He had a profound impact on my career. He’s got all the Harbaugh-isms, the ‘who’s got it better than us.’”

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But the main thing that Alex Smith said about Harbaugh: “More is more.” This means that Harbaugh is determined to push his players to be their best with consistent practice and pressure doing “200 reps in a day.” The Chargers might be in for some tough brushing up once Harbaugh breaks into his head coaching role. Smith also said, “This is the guy that benched me, traded me, and I’d still play for him.” The two still share an amiable bond despite what happened in the past. 

What happened to Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith after the Kaepernick episode?

It was Jim Harbaugh who gave Alex Smith the support and confidence he needed as the 49ers QB. He shone in his initial run as the starting QB leading his team to the NFC Championship Game in 2011. However, in 2012, he suffered a concussion in Week 10 that led to ex-NFL QB Colin Kaepernick taking his place as the permanent QB while Smith was later traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. 

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Following this incident, there was no bad blood between the two. Sources report that the two shared texts and phone calls. For instance, Jim Harbaugh praised Smith’s resilience as he made an epic comeback after a serious leg injury in 2018. In 2019, Harbaugh even invited his former QB to grace the Michigan spring practice as the guest speaker. And the way that Smith is still defending Harbaugh. As is seen from his statement above, all is well between them. And this shows that Harbaugh is worth the hype he’s getting. 

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