It's just moments before kickoff, and head coach Jim Harbaugh is pumping up his quarterback by smacking him on the helmet and pads before taking to the sidelines and awaiting the play call from offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
If you're thinking it's 2011 or 2012, and Harbaugh is dapping up San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, you'd be right for reminiscing.
If you're thinking it's, well... now, and Harbaugh is doing the same as the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach but with former Niners quarterback Trey Lance, you'd be correct, too.
a harbaugh tradition pic.twitter.com/ulzaV3A5Ot
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 1, 2025
It's only the preseason, albeit the finale. But there'll be more than a few full-circle moments when the Bolts visit San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 23 in this year's exhibition finale.
While the game won't mean anything, at least statistically or in the standings, it's safe to say a few former 49ers are probably treating this contest a little more serious than any other exhibition bout.
49ers vs. Chargers preseason game is chock full of irony
Checking the notes, but Saturday's game will be the first time Harbaugh returns to Levi's Stadium -- a venue his Niners coaching tenure helped build -- since being unceremoniously dismissed back in January of 2015.
Not surprisingly, Harbaugh's plan is to start Lance against the team that drafted him No. 3 overall back in 2021, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper:
Plan for Saturday vs. 49ers, per Jim Harbaugh
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 21, 2025
• No starters will play
• Trey Lance will start at QB and play 1-2 series
• Taylor Heinicke will replace Lance and play 1-2 series
• DJ Uiagalelei will replace Heinicke and play the rest of the game
Lance, whose career appeared destined for a complete flameout after not cutting it with either San Francisco or the Dallas Cowboys, has apparently won the QB2 role behind Los Angeles' starter, Justin Herbert, which is great news for the North Dakota State product.
Even 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed happiness for Lance's newfound success under Harbaugh, who also resurrected Smith's once-scuffling career nearly 15 years prior.
Roman, meanwhile, gained notoriety for turning the 49ers offense under Harbaugh into a smash-mouth, physical brand of run-first football, although the coordinator still holds a questionable reputation for not diversifying his attack enough.
Although that won't matter too much to Niners fans on Saturday, as they'll likely be more inclined to see their former head coach and top draftee donning powder blue.