When a coach with decades of football behind him singles out one player above the rest, you listen. So when he was asked about the leader of his Chargers defense, his response wasn’t measured or cautious. It was emphatic, an answer that puts Derwin James in rare company.
Jim Harbaugh praised Derwin James Jr.
The Chargers head coach called him “the greatest safety I’ve ever seen in the history of the National Football League.” For a coach who’s competed against legends, that’s a statement that lands heavy.
James has been different from the start. Drafted 17th overall in 2018, he stepped onto the field and looked like he belonged with the best. At 6’2”, 215 pounds, he was a mismatch for any offense. As a rookie, he piled up 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and a First-Team All-Pro selection in the 2018 NFL season. Few players at that position have ever debuted with that level of impact.
Harbaugh’s admiration comes down to versatility. James can hit like a linebacker, run like a corner, and read the game like a deep safety. On top of that, he has the range to shut down tight ends and receivers. And when asked to blitz, he’s as effective as many edge rushers. In a league built on forcing mismatches, he erases them, and that’s why his coach speaks in absolutes.
Derwin James Jr: The Star Defender of the LA Chargers
The numbers support it as well. Nearly 600 career tackles (597 tackles as of Sept. 16, 2025). Seventeen sacks. Nine interceptions. Four Pro Bowls. Two First-Team All-Pro nods. Two more on the Second Team. Beyond the accolades, in 2022, Derwin James Jr. became the highest-paid safety in league history. Perhaps most importantly, the NFL world saw his comeback in the 2021 season after two years of injuries. With 118 tackles, two picks, and two sacks, he proved his resilience.
Of course, “greatest ever” naturally brings comparisons. Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu each owned their era with signature styles and iconic moments. Though James hasn’t built that resume yet, what makes him unique is how he blends traits from all of them.
Still, the question of durability lingers. James Jr. missed nearly all of 2019 and 2020, and the top safeties in history stacked a decade or more of dominance. Meanwhile, James will need longevity and signature playoff moments to lock himself into that conversation.
Even so, Harbaugh sees more than just stats. Instead, he sees the heartbeat of his defense. Teammates describe James as the voice in the huddle, the one who makes checks and settles alignments. Former Chargers safety Dean Marlowe has praised Derwin James as he played alongside him.
“We all know who Derwin is. He’s a freakin’ playmaker, an impact player”, Marlow said. “He can do it all, play deep, at the line of scrimmage, great blitzer, great tackler. But most of all, I think he’s a great leader. Just to see how he goes about his preparation every single day, it’s pretty cool to see.” He doesn’t just make plays; he controls the game. That’s what Harbaugh values, and that’s why he frames him as the standard.
Whether James becomes universally accepted as the best ever will take time. But for Harbaugh, the verdict is already in. To him, Derwin James is the prototype. The kind of player you build a defense around. The kind of safety you may only see once in a generation.
