Jim Harbaugh rearranged his interview schedule this week, and it turns out no more meetings will be in the cards. The Chargers will complete this long-rumored hire. The Bolts are set to name Harbaugh as their next head coach, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.
The 60-year-old coach will return to the NFL after nine seasons at his alma mater. Harbaugh’s stock veered to a strange place, thanks to Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal last season, but his NFL value never appeared to take a substantial hit. On the heels of the Wolverines’ national championship, the former 49ers HC will pick the Chargers as his NFL return vehicle.
This comes nearly 24 years after the former quarterback took his final NFL snaps, which came as a member of the Chargers. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract Wednesday, Schefter reports. This nearly overlaps with the extension Justin Herbert signed last year; Herbert is signed through 2029.
After interviewing for the Vikings and Broncos’ jobs over the past two offseasons, respectively, Harbaugh reached an agreement to return to the NFL — a previously stated goal. His arrival will give the AFC West three coaches who have led teams to Super Bowls. Harbaugh will arrive as an Andy Reid challenger a year after Sean Payton did. While Payton was interested in this job as the 2022 season progressed, the Bolts held onto Brandon Staley for a third season. With the team moving on from Staley, it set out to land a higher-profile leader. Harbaugh checks that box, having been a winning coach everywhere he has been.
Upon firing Staley in mid-December, the Bolts sent out Harbaugh feelers. This process accelerated from there. Harbaugh also interviewed with the Falcons, but the sides’ second meeting — scheduled for today — did not come to pass. Atlanta will look elsewhere, while Harbaugh assembles a staff in Los Angeles. Long accused of skimping on their head coaches, the Chargers are believed to have upper-crust salary parameters in place with Harbaugh. Negotiations this week are believed to have produced a figure north of the $12.5MM-per-year offer Michigan made.
Harbaugh returns to the NFL as a historically successful coach, in terms of win percentage. While a Super Bowl title eluded Jim Harbaugh against his brother 11 years ago, the younger sibling’s .695 win percentage — compiled from 2011-14 in San Francisco — ranks fifth in NFL history. That number, however, leads all coaches who began their career after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
The Chargers regularly assembled well-regarded rosters in recent years, but they have routinely fallen short of expectations. During Tom Telesco‘s GM run, the team went 3-for-11 in playoff appearances — these seasons all coming with Herbert or Philip Rivers at quarterback. Harbaugh guided the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games with Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick at the controls. Coaching Herbert naturally appealed to this year’s lot of coaching candidates, and Harbaugh’s work with Smith and Kaepernick effectively illustrates his coaching acumen. Ditto Michigan’s recent run, which includes three straight CFP appearances and a convincing win over Washington in this year’s title game.
Herbert’s presence and a return to California — where Harbaugh has coached in four cities in the college and pro ranks — provided a natural appeal. The Chargers making a much bigger financial commitment will as well. Harbaugh will follow first-timers Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley, residing in a different stratosphere in terms of prestige. The Chargers joined the Raiders in expressing significant Harbaugh interest at the end of the regular season, but the Silver and Black did not opt to interview any of this year’s top candidates, instead elevating Antonio Pierce to the full-time post. This left the Chargers as the Harbaugh favorites, and the sides used this week’s second interview to discuss staffing.
Ex-49ers and Ravens OC Greg Roman has been mentioned as a candidate to rejoin Harbaugh, but no coordinators are in place yet. Neither is a GM. One finalist, Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, has emerged. It was long assumed Harbaugh would want to handpick his GM, but that does not appear the case any longer. Although Harbaugh and ex-49ers GM Trent Baalke‘s feud is largely responsible for his 2015 San Francisco exit, the fiery HC is not believed to be strongarming the Chargers on this front. That said, the Bolts will assuredly hire a front office boss that Harbaugh approves.
Prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 San Francisco arrival, the 49ers had missed eight straight playoff brackets. Their stampede to three consecutive NFC title games included a comeback win over the Falcons in the 2012 conference decider, leading to a Super Bowl XLVII appearance that ended with the Harbaugh-Kaepernick operation on the doorstep of completing a historic rally. Herbert is more talented than either of the QBs Harbaugh worked with to reach that stage, setting the stage for one of the most interesting stretches in franchise history.
Harbaugh, whose two-year run as a Bolts quarterback transpired just before the team drafted Drew Brees, will have some other roster issues to address. Injuries have been a notorious issue for this franchise, with each of the team’s skill-position regulars sustaining notable setbacks over the past two seasons. Austin Ekeler is a free agent, while Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are each attached to $20MM-per-year deals. Allen will be 32 this year, while Williams (29) is coming off an ACL tear. The Bolts possess some pieces up front, headlined by Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, and have both edge rushers (Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack) under contract for 2024. Bosa, however, is attached to a $27MM-AAV accord and has continually encountered injuries.
After restructuring Allen, Williams, Bosa and Mack’s contracts last year, the Chargers are projected to be more than $45MM over the 2024 cap. Only three teams are in worse situations presently. While the Bolts are hiring Harbaugh for the long haul, he is 60 and lasted only four years during his previous NFL run. The roster issues coming up will be pivotal, given Herbert’s presence and the $52.5MM-per-year contract to which he is tied.
Upon firing Staley, owner Dean Spanos said the team would make an effort to reimagine its operation. Team president John Spanos confirmed he has a regular role in football ops, having come up through the scouting ranks with the family-owned franchise. Harbaugh’s presence will likely come with more control than the Chargers have given to their previous coaches.
Considering Michigan’s effort to retain Harbaugh and the Falcons entering the pursuit, the veteran coach carried substantial leverage. As Big Ten fans will surely note, this NFL jump will also be a way for Harbaugh to evade an NCAA suspension for the above-referenced scandal. He served two three-game bans in 2023, for different infractions, but potentially faced more punishment. That topic came up during his recent Wolverines re-up talks.
Excluding Sid Gillman‘s AFL tenure, the Chargers have underachieved for most of their history. Air Coryell could not book them a Super Bowl berth. Neither could the Brees draft choice or the Rivers acquisition. Only a 1994 one-off did the trick. The franchise will entrust Herbert’s prime to Harbaugh, making for one of the most fascinating partnerships in recent NFL history.
Thanks for the national title!
Now this 30 day transfer portal window could get scary…
Considering all the crazy talent OSU just added stealing from Alabama’s roster and others they need to keep as many guys as they can. Howard will be much better than McCord who isn’t even at a real major college program anymore, the offense is loaded with talent, the line got better, and the defense has a chance to be historic. The Wolverines at the top of the Big 10, just like their cheating scheme, is about to end.
Great we get to go from Michigan cheating to win to Ohio State cheating to win. Can’t you two just not be terrible for once?
December 23rd, 2023
“Ohio State is now in the middle of its own cheating storm as the NCAA is reportedly investigating the program for gaining “unauthorized access” to practice film from other schools via a video platform called Catapult.”
If this is true unlike the Wolverine fans I won’t defend it. If they have evidence I hope Ryan Day and anyone else involved is fired. How pathetic to cheat yet still lose.
Too bad for Buckeye fans Ryan Day didn’t take an NFL job
Before you call it cheating, torpedo the entire idea of the “transfer portal,” which has literally destroyed the idea of “college athletics”. I’m not a fan of any college team but be reasonable. “College athletes” are now guns for hire, more concerned with finding that avenue to professional glory via the biggest stage—the playoffs and wins—than they are their studies or what a university can afford them academically.
And with NIL, maybe we’d do better to think of it all as the minor leagues. It’s a sick joke, no matter who you’re pulling for
You know what is the craziest part of NIL? It’s 100% on the fans and boosters to pay. Look at these massive tv deals, revenue from tickets, etc. There was an article on Eleven Warriors detailing OSU’s athletics program brought in $274 million last year alone. Not a penny of that goes to NIL.
Yes. I’m a dinosaur. I go back to the idea that institutes of higher education provided a springboard to a better life for students and that the business at hand entailed simply the idea of educating and preparing youngsters
Conversely, the idea of the “student athlete” embraced the idea of a free or at the very least, discounted education while competing at the university
Now, it’s all warped and perverted
The big money you make note of has corrupted everything. We used to laugh at the Nick Nolte-led “Blue Chips” movie. Now, it’s standard procedure
No thanks
Student athletes not being paid was and always has been ridiculous.
Colleges are horrible at handling housing, meal, tuition costs, etc. Even with scholarships many non athlete students had to seek employment on campus cause giving you 21 bucks a day but charging you 10-13 bucks a meal didn’t cover food expenses if you want to eat 3 times a day. All a scholarship really covered was tuition costs and maybe housing if you were lucky but not a guarantee.
Good on athletes getting paid. It’s a job just like anything else.
You write like the parent of a “student athlete” and your logic is mystifying when you take the other 90% of college students who don’t play sports into account
In your way of thinking, $200,000 worth of education isn’t getting paid. Meanwhile, the average student will be paying for their education for years to come
Look, I get the rot which is college athletics and the greed which defines the multi billion dollar corporation which is the NCAA
But it’s time we stop even calling it “college athletics” and perhaps guaranteeing an education to kids who never valued it to begin with
Well, this is what the sports writers and rabid fans wanted. For years upon years, they whined and complained about how exploited these poor students were. Well, they got what they wanted. Now, they complain about it being a wasteland, or not being regulated. The people who saw this coming aren’t surprised. The people who are-or pretend to be-got exactly what they asked for.
Good for the agents, though, for opening up a new playground, I guess.
That roster is gonna get gutted!
I don’t know if Harbaugh will cure an organization that keeps seeming to trip over its own feet (I’m mildly optimistic), but I do know I’m glad the Harbaugh speculation news cycle is over.
They make a good point in the article he has had success at both levels consistently. I think his issues are usually how he handles front office relationships but perhaps he’s learned his lesson on that. I know the NCAA has some rules about scouting opponents for signs and he probably broke them but everyone is trying to read lips and gain an advantage that’s why every coach covers his mouth when calling plays in the NFL. In my eyes the only reporter rule breaking on sports sign stealing was the Astros that to me is where the line should be. Technology shouldnt play that kind of a role. But I like the hire. Hes got a lot of experience with young and veteran players and probably learned from some communication mistakes. He’s got good talent to work with too especially with a top tier young qb
True. Also a team with some serious holes and cap problems. Plus the league has changed a lot in his absence and last time he benefited from having Vic Fangio and Greg Roman (when his scheme was fresh). I’ll be very curious to see who lands as coordinators and GM. I’m inclined to like the hire, but I’m not counting any chickens.
I figure it won’t end well, but hopefully we get some great years before then. I’m pretty pumped.
The division just got a lot tougher.
Andy Reid
Jim Harbaugh
Sean Payton
AP
AFC West has some damn good coaches in it imo.
2024 Season Lets Go
If you cheat, you will win!
I remember you! You were that kid who was always yelling at the other kids for stepping on the line.
Well, they did it. Still a good team in my eyes, and I don’t know how much Harbaugh directly had to do with it, but it did happen. Not sure exactly what you’re upset about.
This was the only logical destination for him in the NFL
As a HC perhaps but I’m sure his brother would be able to find him a spot on the Ravens staff if all other doors were closed.
Good luck, Jim. Thanks for building up our school and bringing us a championship. Go blue!
Yay Jimmy
Khaki is back!!!
He left before the hammer falls on Michigan.
Just like Pete Carroll bolting USC for Seattle and leaving all the NCAA investigations and looming sanctions behind.
So when things go sideways with the bolts does he have a NCAA suspension to serve when he goes to Alabama?
Spending big bucks doesn’t always equate to good fortune. Time will revel if he’s a Lamborghini or a pinto.
He’s does produce wins but seems to have the scruples of a con man.
I’ll hold judgement until I see what transpires with the draft and roster manipulation.
Williams and Bosa are excellent players but can’t stay usable so their salaries might send them to trade bait. Linsley is retiring so that’ll save a couple bucks. Allen I think is good for another season, can actually catch passes and has rapport with Herbert. Ekler is gone as might be other RBs that aren’t #1 caliber. Pipkins should be sent packing. Not all that jazzed with Kendrick’s, size against TEs, KM produced in a contract year but if resign will that continue or does he revert to ‘hanging around’ again. Then there’s ’The Q’ – geez what a miss that one, reminds me of first 3 years of KM, useless!
This hire locks up the last coaching spot in the AFC.
4 NFC Spots left;
Commanders-Ben Johnson?
Panthers-Mike Vrabel?
Seattle-Dan Quinn?
Falcons-Bill Belichick?
Have to imagine Ben Johnson gets a HC job this season.
Wondering if Belichick left a bad impression in his Atlanta interview since that “sure-thing” seemed to cool off a bit. Perhaps he listed all his proposed (friends of Bill) assistants and demanded full personnel control like in NE?
Or Vrabel impressed?
Absolutely the best possible move the Chargers could have made. Arguably already their best coach since… Marty? Coryell? ever?
I’m not a Harbaugh fan but the man has been successful and wins with swagger. And this is a franchise that needs some of both.
He’s got a long way to go before he catches either Marty or Coryell. For fun, though, compare Harbaugh’s 49ers tenure with Coryell’s final four years with the Cardinals before joining the Chargers.
Harbaugh:
2011 – 13-3
2012 – 11-4-1
2013 – 12-4
2014 – 8-8
Overall – 44-19-1 (.695)
Coryell:
1974 – 10-4
1975 – 11-3
1976 – 10-4
1977 – 7-7
Overall – 38-18 (.679)
So three great seasons, followed by a mediocre one. Coryell then went 41-19 in his first four years with the Chargers. I think Chargers fans would be happy if they got that from Harbaugh.
If Sherrone Moore is named the successor at Michigan as expected there really won’t be much of guys entering the portal. Most of the coaches will stay so the only loss would be Jim Harbaugh. Moore has proven he is capable of leading the team and even beating Ohio State.
AFC West seems to get interesting every year. Hopefully they can deliver since it hasn’t. They always win the offseason.
Fu#k yea ! Now move team back 2SD !
Harbaugh is one of those people that always consider themselves the smartest person in the room. Quick to take any credit (even when underserved) and quick to pass blame around when things go south. I’m skeptical he will live up to the hype with the Chargers. Perhaps he can get Indiana on the schedule each year.
Wink would be a good DC for the Chargers if he wont bump heads with Harbaugh
He worked with John until it didn’t work.
When you’ve cheated too much in college to return, turn pro!
Or, when you’ve reached the pinnacle in college football, go for it at the next level! As an added bonus you get to irritate a bunch of babbling rubes yelling about cheating.
Legend