02 February 2024 , 07:00
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The arrival of Jim Harbaugh at the Los Angeles Chargers has sparked excitement among the players, with hopeful text messages being exchanged about the upcoming season.
Harbaugh was announced as Brandon Staley's replacement last month after a disappointing 5-12 season led to Staley losing his job. The players are hopeful that Harbaugh, who has had success with Michigan and San Francisco 49ers, can turn their fortunes around.
Chargers' wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who had a tough first season after being picked in the 2023 NFL Draft, is confident that Harbaugh is the man to change the team's luck. "His past experience with the 49ers and then going to college, I have no doubt in my mind that he can get that done with this team at this level once again," 22-year-old Johnston told ESPN.
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"So we've got a world of confidence with him. I've been texting back and forth with some of the players, and we're very excited to get back to work."
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Johnston, the former college football star, had an impressive run with the TCU Horned Frogs in 2022-23, helping his team to victory in the national championship. In a memorable showdown against Harbaugh's Michigan team, Johnston gave a stellar performance, gaining 163-yards and scoring one touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl.
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Quentin Johnston had an underwhelming rookie season but he believes Harbaugh is the right coach for the team (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)However, Johnston's brilliant play didn't carry over into his rookie season in the NFL, with just 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite this, Johnston remains confident about the future under new coach Harbaugh. "I didn't really get a chance to show who I really was and what type of player I am, but I still got the world of confidence in myself even if nobody doesn't," he said. "And so, you know, going into this next season, I can't wait. Like I said, I feel like I'm due for a breakout, so I'm very excited for that."
Harbaugh will officially kick off his time as the Chargers' coach on Thursday. The ex-Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts quarterback is still rounding off his team, with Kellen Moore set to join the Philadelphia Eagles.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.