Count Jim Harbaugh as a fan of the recent addition of Tyler Conklin.
The Chargers Head Coach spoke earlier this week at the 2025 Annual League Meeting, covering topics such as Mekhi Becton, the Bolts offensive line and the 2025 NFL Draft.
But Harbaugh also opened up about Conklin, a tight end who was added to the roster back on March 21.
"When you track Tyler Conklin, that's a great team player, very talented player, highly productive player. I met him probably three or four times, the enthusiasm comes out," Harbaugh said. "Once we met with him and was around him it was like, 'We got to have this guy.' This is our kind of guy.
"Competitors welcome, excited about Tyler Conklin and how our tight end room has developed," Harbaugh added.
Conklin caught 51 passes for 449 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 16 games with the Jets in 2024. It was his fourth straight season with at least 50 receptions.
As Harbaugh mentioned above, he actually crossed paths in recent years with Conklin, who initially played college basketball at Northwood University before transferring to Central Michigan for football.
Sherrone Moore, who is now Michigan Head Coach and was an assistant under Harbaugh, was Conklin's position coach at CMU in 2017.
"Just what he's done throughout his career, he's always kind of been the underdog and he always acquits himself well, proves himself," Harbaugh said of Conklin. "Former basketball player out of high school, goes to Northwood, then transfers to Central Michigan as a walk on football player.
"First they put him at wide receiver, then outside linebacker," Harbaugh added. "Then Sherrone Moore went over and [Conklin] played tight end. You got good hands, you're a good athlete. The rest is history."
Conklin joins a tight end room that also includes Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk.
"I feel really good about it," Harbaugh said of the group. "Big fan of Will Dissly, he had a career year for us. When you talk about TET — there every day — Will Dissly is there every day."
Dissly set career bests with 50 catches for 481 yards in 2024, his first season with the Bolts.
Conklin wasn't the only pass catcher the Chargers added in free agency, however, as they also reunited with Mike Williams.
Harbaugh on Monday said Justin Herbert might have been as excited as anyone when Williams decided to come back to Los Angeles.
"Justin's reaction, that's the thing that makes me the most excited, most happy. He was excited," Harbaugh said. "Then I met Mike, that was the first time I met Mike, when he came in and signed the contract.
"I could see his enthusiasm and excitement to be back with us, and especially Justin," Harbaugh said. "The rapport that those two have bode well for us."
Williams is 10th all-time in receiving yards with 4,806 and is 13th in both receptions (309) and touchdowns (31) in team history.
