Steelers Fans In Pittsburgh Get Huge Endorsement From Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh: "There's An Aura There"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for their home opener in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium. It might be early in the season, but it is still a battle of two undefeated teams, both at 2-0 and both atop their division, the Steelers alone and the Chargers tied with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh have been coaching for a long time and are well respected. While most fans tend to think of the rivalry with Jim's brother, John Harbaugh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Tomlin is poised to face the other Harbaugh this weekend. 

During his pregame press conference, Harbaugh might have been employing a bit of a Jedi mind trick on Yinzers everywhere. He gave the city of Pittsburgh so much praise when asked by the media how he feels about playing the Steelers that Tone Digs from The Pat McAfee Show wondered if it would lead to him being booed just a little bit less on Sunday. 

"Mmmmmm. Well, I played against them as a player," said Harbaugh. "There's an aura there. There's nobody on this planet I have more respect for than Ben Herbert and he's from Pittsburgh. So I know the kind of football people that come out of the 'burgh. It's real, it's genuine, it's unique. Just nothing but respect for it."

Ben Herbert, a Pittsburgh native, is currently the Chargers' Executive Director of Player Performance. He followed Harbaugh from Michigan, where he helped Harbaugh and the team win a College Football Championship at the end of the 2023 season.  

Harbaugh spent 14 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL from the late 1980s into the 1990s for the Ravens, Chicago Bears, and Indianapolis Colts. He played the Steelers six times during those years, winning two of those games. He had a passer rating of 64.5, threw five touchdowns, and four interceptions. 

He has also faced the Steelers as a head coach with the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers, but this is his first time coming into Pittsburgh as a Chargers coach since their move to Los Angeles.

Steelers Facing A Bigger Foe In Week 3

The Steelers have done a good job protecting the football in the first two weeks. Justin Fields is supposed to be the backup quarterback, but he certainly isn't playing that way. Fields came to the Steel City to back up nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, but so far, the former Super Bowl winner hasn't taken the field during a regular season game.

Pittsburgh's defense has done a remarkable job shutting down their opponents, allowing only 16 points in those two games. Despite beating both the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos, the Steelers have only managed to score one touchdown this season on a beautiful pass to tight end Darnell Washington. However, they will have to find a way to unleash a bit more of the offense if they want to continue to win, especially as the season goes on. 

It hasn't been clear if Fields would remain the starter or if Wilson would finally get a shot when healthy. Now that it sounds as if Fields will definitely be playing Week 3 against the Chargers, new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith will have to open up the playbook some. The Chargers present a more formidable opponent than the other teams they've faced. It doesn't matter if it was being "conservative" or if it was because Tomlin wouldn't take the handcuffs off Smith. They have to allow Fields a bit more leash this week.

Do you think that Harbaugh's comments will earn him enough respect from Steelers fans that he won't be booed? Click to comment below. 

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