INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Just days before his debut as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jim Harbaugh presented his players with a gift.

They each received a collared work shirt with an embroidered name patch and a lightning bolt logo, the kind of shirt an auto mechanic would wear in the shop.

Harbaugh told his players that they probably all had someone in their family who provided for their loved ones by doing “the hard work, the dirty work so to speak, probably work that they didn’t like doing.” The jerseys served as a reminder to the Chargers that they need to adopt the same selfless, blue-collar mentality this season to get where they want to go.

That’s exactly the combative approach the Chargers took on Sunday when they opened the Harbaugh era with a hard-fought 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the first half, when their offense was stagnant and ineffective, they relied on their defense to stay competitive. After halftime, they wore the Raiders down with a physical, energy-sapping running game. And they finished the game in a way that previous Chargers teams rarely did.

When Raiders coach Antonio Pierce ignored win probability metrics midway through the fourth quarter and opted to punt on fourth-and-one at the Los Angeles 43-yard line, the Chargers made him pay, covering 92 yards in eight plays to secure the win. The decisive play was a 61-yard run by JK Dobbins that set up a touchdown pass from Ladd McConkey.

“It was a strong statement from the offense,” said Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa. “We’ve had a lot of games where it was close at the end, we had the lead and didn’t quite pull it off. It’s only been a week, but it’s great to show that we can do this.”

The Chargers on Sunday used the disciplined, defense-focused formula they need to replicate to exceed modest preseason expectations. As defensive lineman Morgan Fox put it, “We made it clear that we’re going to play physical, play fast, and we’re not going to back down.”

The encouraging start to Harbaugh’s tenure was a glimmer of hope for the Chargers, who for decades have been synonymous with underachievement and disappointment. The Chargers have gone through nine head coaches and five general managers since their only Super Bowl appearance in 1995, and have further alienated fans with their habit of throwing away almost certain victories.

The most recent regime change came toward the end of last year’s season, which began with playoff aspirations and went 5-12. Chargers owner Dean Spanos fired coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after a horrific, nationally televised 63-21 loss to the Raiders.

“Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take,” Spanos said in a statement at the time. “Our fans have held strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they deserve more.”

It was that sentiment that led Spanos to hire the eccentric but successful Harbaugh just weeks after he led Michigan to its first national championship in more than a quarter century. The Chargers hoped Harbaugh could engineer a similar quick turnaround as he had at his previous stops.

At Stanford, Harbaugh turned a 1-11 disaster into a Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl winner. With the 49ers, Harbaugh built a six-game underdog into a Super Bowl contender. At his alma mater, Michigan, Harbaugh helped a struggling team regain its former greatness.

Minutes into his introductory press conference in Los Angeles last February, Harbaugh said he wanted to win “multiple championships” as head coach of the Chargers. That was an ambitious goal for any new coach, especially one taking over Harbaugh’s situation.

First of all, the Chargers have the misfortune of playing in the same division as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, which alone makes their path to a favorable playoff spot more difficult.

Second, the roster Harbaugh inherited isn’t even as talented as the one that won just five games a year ago. Big-receiving forwards Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Gerald Everett are gone, replaced by younger, less proven players.

Third, there is the small matter of the Chargers’ infamous home stadium. Disadvantage since moving to Los Angeles in 2017. The stands at SoFi Stadium are often awash in the visiting team’s colors during Chargers home games. Even on Sunday, in Harbaugh’s debut, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce raised his right arm and demanded more noise from his team’s fans as the Chargers faced a third-and-15 attempt in the second quarter.

While Harbaugh can’t solve all of these problems quickly, he has immediately earned the trust of his players. Practices are more focused. Game plans have clear goals. When the Chargers do drills in practice, it’s common to see Harbaugh wearing cleats and lining up at quarterback. When the Chargers lift weights, they often find Harbaugh right next to them doing squats or bench presses.

The authenticity Harbaugh exudes helps players take him seriously when he uses the quirky expressions he is known for.

In press conferences, he has referred to “content” as one of only five words found in football and extolled the camaraderie-building benefits of his quarterback and offensive line being stuck in a broken elevator. On the night before Sunday’s game, he urged his team to “turn the worm.” This is apparently Harbaugh’s way of removing the fatalism that once permeated the franchise and instilling belief that the Chargers can overcome their cursed history.

“I take it all seriously, but I laugh at the same time,” Bosa said. “It’s the best combination. He’s entertaining and funny, but at the same time what he says is very relevant.”

“I feel really involved in his meetings. I’m always waiting to see what he’s going to say next. It feels like he’s really a head coach who has a vision and has executed it before. You can feel safe playing for him.”

That was evident on Sunday, as the Chargers rebounded from a first half in which they totaled 83 yards and two first downs. Dobbins, in particular, livened up the offense in the second half, reeling off three big runs, the last of which he believes would have resulted in a touchdown had he been in better form.

Dobbins’ 135-yard performance was especially significant given the injuries he has suffered in recent years. In the 2021 season opener in Baltimore, Dobbins suffered a torn ACL, a torn LCL and a torn meniscus and missed the rest of the season. Last season, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1 that was season-ending for him.

Now he’s back as one of the potential centerpieces of a Harbaugh team that looks to outdo its opponents in toughness, intelligence and work. The Chargers are looking to embody the new work shirts Harbaugh gave them. They hope to switch from powder blue to blue-collar shirts.

“I actually wore mine to the game,” defensive lineman Poona Ford said, pointing to his locker where his work shirt was hanging. “I think Coach Harbaugh’s message was to get ready for work. I feel like we set the tone today for what we want to be this season.”