The eye-watering bonus Jim Harbaugh has banked after leading LA Chargers to playoffs

Jim Harbaugh has led the LA Chargers to the NFL playoffs after dismantling the New England Patriots – while earning himself an eye-watering bonus in the process.

Quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 281 yards and three touchdowns on the season as the Chargers cruised to a 40-7 win over the Patriots in Foxborough, a win that officially secured their spot in the postseason.

This means Harbaugh, who only moved to LA at the beginning of the year, becomes the first head coach in the Super Bowl era to lead two teams back to the playoffs in his first season after losing records the year before . .

He previously accomplished the feat in 2011 after reaching the NFC title game with the San Francisco 49ers.

But this time, Harbaugh has not only revived a team’s fortunes on the field, but earned one himself.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefterthe 61-year-old has activated a $1 million bonus into his Chargers contract after making the playoffs.

Harbaugh and the Chargers officially reached the postseason after a 40-7 victory over the Patriots

The team missed out on a playoff berth last season after finishing 5-12 and fourth in the AFC West, a torrid run of form that led to Harbaugh’s predecessor Tom Telesco being awarded the title last December.

For Harbaugh, a formidable debut season in LA will mark the fourth postseason appearance of his five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his time with the 49ers.

“If you talk to them, there’s more to do,” he said after the playoff win against New England.

“There is no coach who could do a better job than coaching these players. Nobody. Maybe the only person in the future would be us who could have it better than us.”

History was also made in Foxborough by Herbert, who finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards, becoming the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.

“We had a good opportunity tonight and we took advantage of it,” the quarterback said. ‘We had a good plan. All week we knew how big a game this was for us. The boys were called, focused and we executed today.”