Jim Harbaugh Takes Responsibility for Rookie Omarion Hampton’s Clock Management Error in Chargers’ Win

Omarion Hampton stepped out of bounds instead of running down the clock that allowed the Chiefs to score a field goal.

Jim Harbaugh Takes Responsibility for Rookie Omarion Hampton’s Clock Management Error in Chargers’ Win

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh (Image via IMAGO)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers played a near-perfect game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, except for a brief moment of lapse in concentration from debutant Omarion Hampton.

50 seconds before halftime, Hampton found himself carrying the ball on third-and-16. Instead of running down the clock by stretching the play as long as possible, the 2025’s 22nd overall pick went out of bounds.

It was a wrong move by Hampton. He should have wasted a few more seconds. This opportunity gave the Chiefs one final shot at scoring a point before the break. Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker dispatched from 36 yards, but the Chiefs quickly gained valuable yardage.

The Chiefs did not have any timeouts left. So, they placed the ball near the 59-yard mark and sent kicker Harrison Butker to kick a field goal. Butker ran in to bury his attempt right between the posts.

There were different scenes on the two dugouts. While the Chiefs celebrated Butker’s incredible FG, the Chargers sat in silence. Jim Harbaugh was visibly upset with Hampton for running out of bounds.

The Chargers eventually came out on top, with quarterback Justin Herbert capping off a 300+ and 3-touchdown outing. During the post-game presser, reporters asked Harbaugh to explain Hampton’s blunder. Harbaugh protected the rookie by taking the blame upon himself.

I was trying to run the ball, get the play clock down to 13 seconds. And we called an outside run, and none of us smart coaches relayed the message to our young running back to stay in bounds. [It was] not [Hampton’s] fault at all; that’s on me.

Jim Harbaugh said

Hampton finished his first NFL start with 15 carries for 48 yards and 2 receptions for 13 yards.

Omarion Hampton received special guidance from a photographer

After he stepped out of the field, Hampton sat down next to Najee Harris in the Chargers camp. He was busy reviewing the last play when a photographer hunched over to interrupt him.

Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton (Image via Getty)

It wasn’t just any other photographer, but former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, who earned five Pro Bowl honors and over 10,000 rushing yards, knows a thing or two about running down the clock.

Hampton began the Chiefs game as RB1 because Harris was still feeling queasy. The Chargers signed Harris after his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers came to an end. However, he suffered an eye injury in the offseason.

There was a massive question mark about his week one status, but he recovered enough to stay active. He sat behind Hampton and had just one carry the entire game.

It’s unclear who will take the majority of the snaps in the second game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hampton definitely showed that he has the speed and strength to go up against NFL defenses, but if Harris is 100%, then he might get the nod ahead of the UNC graduate.

The Chargers and the Raiders share a long and fierce rivalry. These two teams have played each other 131 times, with the Raiders winning 69 times and the Chargers 60 times, and two games have ended in a draw.

LA came out on top in both games last year, with Herbert throwing over 450+ yards and 3 touchdowns. At present, the Chargers are favorites to secure their second win of the 2025 season.

Also Read: