Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh will undergo another cardiac ablation this offseason as well as hip replacement surgery.
Harbaugh, who turned 61 last month, disclosed the upcoming procedures during his season-ending press conference with reporters on Wednesday. He said he will “soon” undergo the procedures.
Harbaugh said in mid-October that he previously underwent ablations in 1999 and 2012. The procedure treats irregular heart rhythms.
Harbaugh’s limp has appeared more pronounced this season as he continued to fight through the hip issue.
The heart issues attracted major attention during the Chargers’ 23-16 victory against the host Denver Broncos on Oct. 13.
Just before kickoff, Harbaugh said he experienced an “atrial flutter,” also known as arrhythmia, and was examined in the medical tent on the sideline.
Then right after the game began, Harbaugh walked off the field with team trainers. Once the situation was under control, Harbaugh returned to the sideline midway through the first quarter.
This was the second time Harbaugh experienced arrhythmia during a game. The other came on Nov. 19, 2012 when he was coach of the San Francisco 49ers during a 32-7 victory over the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.”
Harbaugh met with his cardiologist on Oct. 14 and was placed on medication and wore a heart monitor for the following two weeks.
The Chargers went 11-6 during Harbaugh’s first season as coach before getting routed 32-12 by the host Houston Texans in Saturday’s AFC wild-card game.
–Field Level Media
