Chargers' Harbaugh: James is 'best safety I've ever seen'

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh gave safety Derwin James Jr. huge praise after Monday's 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

"The best safety I've ever seen in the history of the National Football League," Harbaugh said of James, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Harbaugh's a former quarterback who's been a head coach in college or the NFL since 2004.

James put on a show against the Raiders on Monday Night Football. The veteran defensive back finished with seven tackles and two pass breakups, one of which prevented a Las Vegas touchdown and resulted in a Los Angeles interception. He's also been dominant at pressuring the quarterback when needed.

"There's nothing he's not great at," Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh elaborated on what makes James special, comparing the four-time Pro Bowler to MLB icon Willie Mays, known as a legendary five-tool player.

"It's like being around greatness every day," Harbaugh said. "Whether it's the practice environment, the training environment, the meeting environment, the way he is on the sideline and most of the way he is and during the game. He's incredible."

Harbaugh added, "When he tackles, he gets him down, but he can cover, he can play any position in the secondary. I guess what jumps out the most is he can play nickel, he can play dime backer, he could play corner, he could play in the deep half, he can play in the deep middle, he can blitz. You have to compare him to Willie Mays at that point. He's a five-tool, six-tool secondary player."

James has appeared in 84 games and earned three All-Pro berths, including one first-team selection, since the Chargers drafted him 17th overall in 2018.