Harbaugh bemoans 'loophole' after nixed trade, urges NFL to look into it

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  Lindsey ThiryNov 12, 2026, 04:42 PM ET

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  Lindsey Thiry is a national NFL reporter for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2018 to cover the Los Angeles Rams after two years of covering them for the Los Angeles Times, and has also covered the Chargers for ESPN. She previously covered the Atlanta Falcons.

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh on Thursday expressed frustration with the Denver Broncos about a nixed trade this week involving linebacker Daiyan Henley.

"The Broncos based a pass-fail on a medical grade, based on whether we would take less compensation. And we wouldn't. And we didn't," Harbaugh said. "And in my opinion it's one of those loopholes that the league should really look into because it sets a bad precedent and it continues to set a bad precedent."

Ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, the Chargers agreed to send Henley to the division-rival Broncos in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round and a 2028 fifth-round draft pick.

When they initially announced the trade Tuesday, the Broncos included that the deal was "pending a physical."

Late Wednesday night, the Broncos announced on social media that the trade would "not be finalized." Neither team disclosed official reasons for why the trade was scuttled, but sources told ESPN that the Broncos discovered an issue with one of Henley's knees when the linebacker had his physical Wednesday.

When asked if teams should be able to renegotiate a deal beyond the deadline, Harbaugh said Thursday, "It shouldn't be, but apparently it is.

"But that's why it's a loophole and teams should not have the ability to do that. I mean, it's a medical grade. It's a pass-fail for a medical grade and they told us they weren't going to pass him it if it was a fourth and a fifth, which was agreed upon. And they would not pass him for that. They would pass them for a fourth and a fill-in-the-blank. And that was, I don't know what to call that, but that's what it is."

Henley has twice this season been listed on the Chargers' injury report.

In Week 6, he landed there because of a knee issue. After being a limited participant in practice throughout that week, he started against the Kansas City Chiefs, playing 51 defensive snaps and finishing with four tackles.

Last week he was on the injury because of a shoulder issue. However, he started in the 44-22 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, playing 57 defensive snaps and finishing with 10 tackles and an interception.

Harbaugh expressed confusion as to why Henley would have been healthy enough to play for the Chargers, but not the Broncos.

"It's a pass-fail for a medical grade, and they told us they weren't going to pass him it if it was a fourth and a fifth (pick), which was agreed upon. And they would not pass him for that. They would pass them for a fourth and a fill-in-the-blank. And that was, I don't know what to call that, but that's what it is." Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh on Broncos after nixed trade

"That's what is confusing to me, too," he said. "There's a loophole there that gives them the opportunity to do that. And yeah, that's something that should set a bad precedent and should be looked into. Medical grade should be based on pass-fail, what the medical grade is not -- not being used by an organization to get less compensation for a trade that was agreed upon."

When asked if the Broncos were fully aware of any medical issues Henley might have when the deal was struck, Harbaugh deferred to Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who was slated to speak later Thursday.

As the Chargers prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Harbaugh was uncertain whether Henley would participate in Thursday's practice.

"TBD on today, because like I said, he got back late last night," Harbaugh said.

A third-round pick in the 2023 draft, Henley has started all eight games in the Bolts' winless season, leading the team with 51 tackles and two fumble recoveries, to go with a forced fumble.

Henley is in the final season of a four-year, $5.4 million rookie deal.