Jim Harbaugh, head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers will “soon” have an ablation to treat an irregular heart rhythm as well as hip replacement surgery, he said during his end-of-season remarks.

Harbaugh experienced an irregular heartbeat during the first half of a 23-16 win at Denver on Oct. 13. During the first quarter, Harbaugh briefly entered the medical tent before heading to the locker room. While in the locker room, Harbaugh had his pulse and an EKG taken and received an IV and magnesium.

Harbaugh returned to the sideline after the EKG showed his heart had returned to normal rhythm.

The 61-year-old Harbaugh said that he had dealt with atrial flutter for many years, which can cause the heart to beat too quickly. After seeing a cardiologist, he wore a heart monitor for two weeks and took a blood thinner.

It will be the third cardiac ablation for Harbaugh. His first was in 1999, when he was still playing, and then in 2012.

Cleveland sues Browns over possible move

Cleveland’s fight to keep the Browns from moving from downtown and into a proposed dome in the suburbs has taken yet another legal turn.

The city has filed a lawsuit to stop the NFL team from leaving Cleveland’s lakefront when its stadium lease expires after the 2028 season. Team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam intend to build a $2.4 billion stadium and adjacent entertainment complex in Brook Park, Ohio, 15 miles south of the city.

It’s the latest twist in a struggle that has familiarity for Browns fans, who felt betrayed in 1995 when late owner Art Modell, unable to strike a stadium deal with the city, moved the franchise to Baltimore.

That led to the enactment of the “Modell Law, ” which in part says that any professional sports team that uses state funding for its facility can’t leave without permission or providing advance notice.

Olympics

Bill for Congressional honor for ‘Miracle’ returns

A bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

The ongoing effort, which included the bill being first introduced in October, needed to be submitted for consideration again in the 119th Congress.

Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., reintroduced the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act in the House along with co-sponsors Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and Bill Keating, D-Mass. Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reintroduced it in the Senate.

USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said he encourages fans to contact their congressional representatives to express their support for the bill’s passage. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league enthusiastically supports the legislation.

February marks the 45th anniversary of the Americans beating the heavily favored Soviet Union on the way to the gold medal on home ice in Lake Placid, NY.

NBA

Hornets send Richards to Suns for Okogie

The Phoenix Suns acquired center Nick Richards and a second-round pick in 2025 from the Charlotte Hornets for guard Josh Okogie and three future second-round draft picks.

Charlotte receives second-round draft picks from the Denver Nuggets in 2026 and 2031, in addition to a second-round draft pick from Phoenix in 2031. The Hornets send a 2025 second-round draft pick, the least favorable between Denver and the Philadelphia 76ers, to the Suns.

Richards helps fill a need for the Suns (19-20), who are in 11th place in the Western Conference and struggling to find consistency in the paint. The 7-foot Richards averaged 7.0 points, 5.5 rebounds in five seasons with the Hornets with 74 starts.

Okogie has averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 401 games in seven NBA seasons, including the last three with the Suns.

AUTO RACING

JR Motorsports enters Allgaier into Daytona 500

The NASCAR team owned by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will attempt to make its Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500 with a champion driver and a partnership with a Grammy Award-winning artist.

JR Motorsports has entered reigning Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier into next month’s season-opening “Great American Race” in a Chevrolet sponsored by the whiskey label created by 10-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton.

Allgaier will have to qualify for the Daytona 500 — a race his boss has won twice — on either speed in time trials or via one of the qualifying races.

— From news services