New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh grew up in the Midwest, but dreamed of one day living the Los Angeles lifestyle. Harbaugh's love for Los Angeles came from a 1970s TV show called “The Rockford Files.” LA Times NFL writer Sam Farmer spoke to Harbaugh about his personal homage to the series and had more on LA Times Today with Kelvin Washington.
“The Rockford Files'' is a crime drama that centers on Jam Rockford, who lives in a mobile home on Malibu Beach. Harbaugh met the program's star, James Garner, while playing for the Chicago Bears. Farmer explained why Harbaugh had such a connection to Garner and his character.
“Jim Rockford was this flawed person. He was always punched in the mouth. He was a wrongly convicted ex-con who spent several years in prison, got out and was paid $200 a day. He was working on expenses and solving crime around Los Angeles, and he could always get into a little trouble… There's humor in that, and for young Jim Harbaugh, growing up in Ann Arbor, it was It was like his mythical place, the sun. “Jim Rockford, living in this run-down trailer on the beach in Malibu, always shined there, and that's always stuck with Jim Harbaugh,” Farmer said.
So when Mr. Harbaugh moved to California in January to coach the Chargers, he set up camp in a mobile home in Huntington Beach in honor of Mr. Rockford.
“Harbaugh had a camper van that was a little more modest and basic. [Chargers offensive coordinator Greg] Roman had this big, beautiful kind of bus, and Harbaugh lived in it for several months. In fact, during the Super Bowl, he had his brother-in-law drive his car to Los Angeles and park it on the beach,” Farmer said.
Watch the full interview above.
Watch LA Times Today on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News app Monday through Friday at 7pm and 10pm.