Jim Harbaugh Points Finger at Pat Freiermuth for Derwin James’ Suspension
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh does not believe All-Pro safety Derwin James should have faced a one-game suspension for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth in Sunday’s game. In fact, Harbaugh thinks a stiff-arm by Freiermuth made Derwin’s hit look worse than it actually was. James was penalized 15 yards in game for a blow to the head of Freiermuth.
“There was not a defenseless player, changed his course, and I thought that Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth,” Harbaugh said. “I thought that caused his head to make the contact, and I thought the contact was first with the forearm, then the shoulder, then the head.”
James has been suspended for repeated violations of the league’s rule for head contact. He will miss one game without pay, as the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.
Freiermuth’s stiff-arm barely touched James’ helmet, so I’m not sure how Harbaugh came up with that.
The hit that got Derwin James suspended. That’s ridiculous…he’s trying to tackle someone.
pic.twitter.com/Rl7ysZKMdX— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) September 25, 2024
Freiermuth, who has suffered multiple concussion over the course of his football career, did not appear to be injured on the play.
NFL vice president Jon Runyan announced the suspension in a letter to Derwin James that the league published.
“During the third quarter of Sunday’s Chargers-Steelers game you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote. “The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact to Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided.
“Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated. Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed on the Pat McAfee Show that Freiermuth was on the appeal call and said he didn’t think the James hit was dirty.
Read This Next
