It was the city where Jim Harbaugh’s playing career officially ended. Though he thought he had at least two more years of playing life ahead of him, Harbaugh knew it was time to trade in his helmet for a headset when he didn’t appear in a single game for the Carolina Panthers in 2001 as a 15-year-old quarterback.

“This is the football gods telling me we’re not going to play anymore,” Harbaugh said this week with a big grin.

Returning to Charlotte, N.C., with the Chargers, Harbaugh has had an even better second career. He was a success in his return to the NFL last week, as the Panthers, led by first-year head coach Dave Canales, flopped against the New Orleans Saints. Canales, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, lost 47-10 in his head coaching debut.

With their opponents struggling, the Chargers have a chance to get off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2012.