Judge Judy serves as honorary captain for Chargers vs. Bucs after invite from superfan Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh, who is a “Judge Judy” superfan, made the 82-year-old a Los Angeles Chargers honorary captain for their showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Harbaugh has been outspoken in the past about his love for Judy Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy – the same name as her popular television show.

“Trust is big to me,” Harbaugh said in 2013 at the NFL Combine. “I’m a big fan of the ‘Judge Judy’ show. When you lie in Judge Judy’s courtroom, it’s over. Your credibility is completely lost and you stand no chance of winning that case. I learned that from her. It’s very powerful. And true. If somebody lies to you, how can you trust anything they say after that?”

Still not convinced? In 2013, while coaching the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh sat in the audience for a Judge Judy episode. Harbaugh’s jaw hung to the floor while he soaked in the moment with front-row seats.

Judge Judy was an honorary captain for the LA Chargers today after an invitation from superfan Jim Harbaugh 😂

(📸 via @chargers)https://t.co/3xykHeCKWN pic.twitter.com/AkNPVdQP9c

— 5 GOATs (@5GOATs_) December 15, 2024

Harbaugh also referenced Judge Judy last year when he was under investigation for Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal.

“That’s not my dance floor,” Harbaugh said of the court system. “I’ve watched a lot of shows. I’ve watched Judge Judy a lot.”

With his “role model for truth-telling” representing his team on Sunday, Harbaugh won’t be satisfied with anything short of a victory on Sunday. He hasn’t had any trouble winning this season, entering the Sunday matchup with an 8-5 record.

This season is Harbaugh’s first at the helm of the Chargers. He took over the organization after leading Michigan to a national championship in 2023. Harbaugh is certainly enjoying his NFL experience thus far. On Monday, the 60-year-old head coach raved about his team.

“I haven’t been around a team with this much fortitude to them, stalwart football players,” Harbaugh said Monday. “Five decades, I see that with this team, I feel that with this team.

“Great to see so many guys contributing. Just giving it their best, that’s all a coach can ask for. I call it the will to win, the determination, just being a stalwart. I’ve never been on a team that has so many guys, that has it at this level. That’s five decades of being on teams. That bodes really well for us. We’re just going to keep chipping away at it, keep grinding.”