Jim Harbaugh picks up $1,000,000 in bonus after Chargers' latest feat against Patriots

Jim Harbaugh has brought the Los Angeles Chargers back to the playoffs and it came with a hefty monetary reward.

On Saturday, the Chargers won 40-7 at the New England Patriots to secure a Wild Card spot after a year's absence. Justin Herbert was dominant with 26 completions for 281 yards and three touchdowns - two to uber-rookie Ladd McConkey, while the defense limited Drake May to a single touchdown and sacked him four times (two of them from safety Derwin James).

Meanwhile, Harbaugh activated a $1-million bonus in his contract for the achievement, as per Adam Schefter.

He also became the first coach in NFL history to lead two separate franchises coming off losing records to the playoffs, having done so first with the 2011 San Francisco 49ers, who progressed all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

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Jim Harbaugh downplays role in Chargers' turnaround, credits players

But for Jim Harbaugh, he is not the reason why the Chargers are back in the playoffs: it is the players, from Justin Herbert all the way down to punter JK Scott. In his post-game press conference, he said:

“From day one, it’s really started with – I mean, I can’t give enough credit to Derwin James, Justin Herbert, those two in particular. And Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater. I mean, stalwarts. Brad Bozeman has come in. He’s been a stalwart.”

He continued:

“There’s no coach who could have it better than to be coaching these players. Nobody. Maybe the only one would be future us could have it better than us.”

He also revealed plans to play his starters in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders, given the implications: the fifth seed is still in play, and the Chargers can clinch it if the Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Herbert, meanhwile, believes the coach deserves more credit:

"He's been everything. Those guys in that locker room respect him so much. They just wanna make right by him and make him proud ... it's the way that everyone fights for him, wants to play for him, and respects him."

Broadcast details for the Raiders game will be announced after this game week.