Although the Chargers reside in a different city than they did during Jim Harbaugh‘s time with the team as a quarterback, he will reunite with the organization that once gave him an opportunity as his career wound down. It took a big salary and appears to have brought considerable autonomy to complete this transaction.
Harbaugh signed a five-year contract, and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz indicates the longtime Michigan HC is likely to have final say when it comes to personnel matters. Teams are often reluctant to provide this for head coaches, but Harbaugh brought leverage — due to the interest the Falcons showed and the offers Michigan made to keep him — that allowed him to maximize his position.
The Falcons had scheduled a second interview, but Harbaugh ended up postponing it. Harbaugh may or may not have intended to make that trip, but he used it during talks with the Chargers, who had long been the frontrunners in this race.
The Bolts did not give any of their Tom Telesco-era HCs final say, with the GM running the show. The team frequently struggled to turn Telesco’s well-regarded rosters into playoff berths, however, and Dean Spanos said ownership would spend time considering how it organized its power structure. It appears Harbaugh did enough to justify an HC-centric operation. Harbaugh, 60, also used president John Spanos‘ comments pushing back on the Chargers’ perceived frugality when it comes to HC spending to his advantage in negotiations, Schultz notes, adding the Chargers’ openness in giving such power to a head coach separated them during this year’s hiring period.
This contract is worth more than the $12.5MM-per-year deal Michigan is believed to have offered, and even if it falls short of the $18MM salary range Sean Payton established last year, Harbaugh will be given more control than any of the other HCs hired this year. The nine-year Wolverines HC appears prepared to bring his most recent DC — Jesse Minter — with him to Los Angeles, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Other staffers are likely to follow, per Schultz. Harbaugh made it a point during Bolts talks to mention bringing analytics staffers from Ann Arbor as well.
The power the Bolts are giving Harbaugh understandably gives him a considerable say in where the team’s GM search ends. This became a sticking point for Harbaugh, per Schultz. Given how his 49ers tenure concluded, it is logical this became a priority for the accomplished HC. Harbaugh’s feud with Trent Baalke and issues with 49ers ownership led him out the door after four years, bringing a steep freefall for the team before Kyle Shanahan — given a six-year contract due to what transpired in Baalke’s final years — began to pick up the pieces.
As for where the Bolts go at GM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicates Ravens exec Joe Hortiz is considered the favorite by some around the league. Hortiz, the Ravens’ director of player personnel, has extensive ties to the Harbaugh family and has been in Baltimore for nearly the franchise’s entire existence. This would stand to better prepare him for the potential challenge of working with Jim Harbaugh.
Hortiz has worked alongside John Harbaugh since the latter’s arrival in 2008 but has been with the Ravens since 1998. Prior to his 2019 promotion under GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz spent 10 years as the team’s director of college scouting. Hortiz joins Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown as the only candidates the Chargers have brought in twice.
Unsurprisingly, Justin Herbert‘s status loomed as a Harbaugh draw. Many around the NFL pointed to Harbaugh showing interest in elevating Herbert — who supplies one of the top QB skillsets in the game today — after an inconsistent recent run, Fowler adds. Harbaugh worked wonders for Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco and is coming off a run with J.J. McCarthy that ended in a convincing national championship result. Via the extension he inked last summer, Herbert is tied to the Chargers through the 2029 season. Only Patrick Mahomes‘ contract runs beyond that timeframe.
Stanford went 1-11 during its final pre-Harbaugh season; the Cardinal finished 12-1 in 2010, propelling Harbaugh to the 49ers. San Francisco had missed eight straight playoff fields prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 arrival; he moved the team to three consecutive NFC championship games. Harbaugh’s .695 win percentage is the best among NFL coaches who started their careers since the 1970 merger. While the former Chargers QB’s style may not be for everyone, the success he has achieved on the sideline convinced the Chargers to revamp their organization to bring him in.
Chargers had to pony up for a real coach for once. AFC West is going to be a dogfight for the next couple of seasons! AP will probably take his lumps this year, but he seems like he’ll figure out over a few seasons running the Raiders. Wonder if Andy will retire, a few articles have recently been written about that. And finally, I hope Sean’s ego gets popped in Denver. He comes across as a jerk.
Fun facts….
Only two players drafted during Harbaugh’s 49ers tenure (2011-14) eventually earned a TOTAL of two Pro Bowl nods, one All-Pro.
In the four years before Harbaugh arrived (2007-10), the 49ers drafted five players that would eventually earn a total of 11 All-Pro honors and 22 Pro Bowls.
During the four years after Harbaugh departed (2015-18), the 49ers drafted four players that would earn a total of 6 All-Pro honors and 11 Pro Bowls.
Takeaway (as I see it): Elite coach that’s better off letting personnel guys do the shopping
You clearly don’t understand why he left the 49ers in the first place. It was all over a power struggle between him and Trent Baalke. Baalke when Harbaugh was there took a lot of fliers on injured guys who had ACL injuries or other things. Baalke was so good the team stunk after Harbaugh left and was shortly fired. He then went to Jacksonville where he did a poor job too and got fired.
Not to mention, a lot of those pro bowlers drafted after Harbaugh were drafted by the Lynch front office. They also had plenty of high picks when Harbaugh was there they were in no position for Bosa. Just look though how Harbaugh managed to get Kaepernick and Alex Smith to a Super Bowl appearance. He will do fine in LA.
Thanks for the feedback, Black Ace57, but you haven’t said anything football people don’t already know. And so we’re clear, I like what I know of Harbaugh and want — expect — him to do better than “fine.”
Did you miss where I said he’s an “elite coach”? Guys earned multiple honors while he was HC, but the majority were drafted (by McCloughan) before he got there. Yes, he and his staff got the most out of Kaepernick and helped Alex Smith revive his career. But how good was Kaep (their pick) after they left? Smith (not their pick) still went to three Pro Bowls — with KC.
Lastly, you seem to have issues with Baalke (Jacksonville’s CURRENT GM). Sorry he hurt you…. Of course he bears responsibility for the 30-40 picks between 2011-14, but Harbaugh had a heavy hand as well.
Odessa, black ace totally schooled you. Take the loss line a man.
You’re totally right. Bro.
Baalke is still in Jacksonville. I don’t think it was the draft as much as it he wanted to keep his players no matter what, kind of the Payton model in New Orleans, and it wasn’t just Baalke. It was the whole organization. He’s just an abrasive guy. When you tell your owner that this meeting is for men when he comes into it, you are kind of abrasive.
Two words. Scott McCloughan. Seattle dismissed him and fell apart afterward too.
Harbaugh is easily the most over hyped coach to appear in some time. The 49ers offense ranked 26th, 11th, 24th and 20th during his HC tenure in Frisco. The credit for the team’s success during that time clearly should be going to Vic Fangio who as DC constructed units that ranked 4th, 3rd, 5th and 5th. Will the Chargers have Fangio quality defenses to support Harbaugh? I wouldn’t count on it.
Not to take away from good coaches, but the SF roster was LOADED with talent — especially the D.
I’ll tell you who’s Happy. Michigan. Now they can say they didn’t fire him he left on his own and they can just get another coach. One who’s not a total egomaniac. Plus the Bears should be happy as his name won’t come up when they fire Eberflus. And what’s with Joe Barry? Are the Bears complying with some Rooney Rule clause where you have to interview an idiot?
Michigan has been a joke for decades they could have had carrot top as a coach and if he brought them a natty they should’ve worshipped the ground he walked on
What an absolutely DUMB take! You sound more like Paul Finebaum then anything else!
No clue who that is but you should thank harbs for making your team relevant again
It will be fun to watch this jerk fail hard.
I hope he succeeds like he has everywhere else. Being a really good coach doesn’t mean you have to be a nice guy. He appears to be dedicated to his profession and throws everything into it.
There a first time for everything but the odds are against him failing.
Sean Payton to Denver 2..0 …
They won’t make the playoff a
After a rough start to the season, the Broncos ended up being a perfectly average team, which was a huge step up from the disaster of the year before. I’d imagine they’re pretty happy to have Payton right now.
Unfortunately, JH will turn the Chargers into a cheating team, just like how he turned Michigan into one.
What position will Connor Stallions be fulfilling in the Chargers organization?
LMFAO! If you’re really turning to Conner Stallions takes, then you truly have nothing to say to begin with. Sooooooo many Michigan haters in this chat! I can’t wait for U of M to smash without Harbaugh around so all the “They cheated their way to a Natty” morons can puff on it! 15-0 and the 1st team in history to beat 4 top-10 teams in a row (Penn St, OSU, Bama, Wash) on there way to a CFP championship. QUIT HATING!
Well in all fairness the players that Harbaugh recruited illegally will still be there for years, Unless they portal out because their hero left. So him leaving means nothing because the damage was already done. So root them on if you want, They’re now grouped in with the Patriots as a team that never found a rule they couldn’t break. Says more about you than everybody else.
I would bet on him winning sooner rather than later. I think part of the reason he doesn’t take as long to start winning is because he doesn’t scrap existing talent to make players fit his scheme. He’s already got the foundation for the defense with Derwin James, Joey Bosa & Khalil Mack. I’ll be amazed if he can fix WR Quintin Johnston like he did with QB Alex Smith. I already have higher hopes for Darius Davis.
Harbaugh is likely to succeed much sooner than Sean Payton.
Mostly because he has a quarterback and isn’t about to take the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history getting rid of one.