When signs were pointing to Jim Harbaugh landing the Chargers’ head coaching position, his son Jay was floated as a logical candidate to join him as special teams coordinator. The latter is indeed making the jump to the NFL, but not in Los Angeles. 
Harbaugh is set to join the Seahawks as their special teams coordinator, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. He has been with Michigan under Jim Harbaugh since 2015, and much of his tenure with the Wolverines has included time as special teams coordinator. Jay has held that title since 2017, while also serving as a position coach (running backs, tight ends and safeties) at various points along the way.
Once it became clear Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers were talking terms on a contract and candidates to fill out his staff, Jay was reported as a top option for the role of ST coordinator in L.A. The Chargers have indeed matched expectations by hiring Greg Roman in a top offensive role, but today’s news confirms that the younger Harbaugh will not be joining him. Instead, incumbent ST coordinator Ryan Ficken will be retained, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson recently reported would likely be the case.
Jay Harbaugh, 34, and new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald worked together at Michigan when the latter spent the 2021 season as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. Macdonald excelled in the DC post with the Ravens for two years, and his success in that role has now helped him become the youngest head coach in the NFL. Macdonald will have a familiar face in at least one coordinator spot on his initial staff.
Seattle’s third phase units had been guided by Larry Izzo for the past three seasons, after he had spent the previous three years as an assistant on special teams. The Seahawks allowed their staffers to seek out new opportunities once it was announced Pete Carroll would return, however. Seattle ranked eighth in special teams DVOA in 2023, and Harbaugh will look to at least match that level of success as the Seahawks aim to return to the postseason. This will mark his first full-time NFL gig as Macdonald’s staff begins to take shape.
Oh god there’s more of them
It’s a good idea for young Jay to get out of the shadow of nepotism and stand on his own two feet. Will quickly qualify him for a DC position and if he does well for a HC position. We won’t be getting rid of the Harbaughs any time soon, it appears.
I mean Macdonald has only work for his father and uncle the last 5 years. Seems like nepotism still. But for a future potential hc gig it’s good to work with someone other then family
That’s not nepotism in MacDonald’s case (more like cronyism), but I do agree. It will be much better to judge these peoples’ talents on their own. On one hand, the children of coaches have the unique experience of growing up around the environment, which gives them a bit of a head start, but on the other, you have to wonder how difficult it would be for them to branch out independently of their predecessor.
100% it is mike Macdonald favored a friend.
Nepotism:
the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.
“the unfair practice of granting jobs and other favours to relatives, whether by blood or marriage.” -Britannica’s definition, which is more traditional.
So Britannica says otherwise, but it’s not the first time that Oxford has relaxed a definition to fit current language. They tend to do that. Googling cronyism versus nepotism would provide more examples. Of course, it doesn’t change the issue at hand.
But this is off topic. I think that the real issue is how to decipher when a cronyism or nepotism related hire actually gives you a good candidate. Kyle Shanahan, for example, benefitted tremendously from his father’s NFL career, but is well thought of by most as a head coach. Both the brothers Harbaugh have had success, and were themselves descended from a football figure. How do they contrast with, say, Nathaniel Hackett, who has done a pretty poor job on his own (he’s had success in spurts, but without Rodgers, the results haven’t been great)? Sometimes, a coach’s descendant or crony is a legitimately talented coach, who just happens to be related to another coach. Sometimes, he just rides the coattails.
Heh
Lmao
Yep. Just like there’s more belichicks
The Seattle football market is really stocking up on the children of famous coaches.
Not a fan of nepotism, but sometimes it’s deserved. Kyle Shanahan for instance. Without his father he likely wouldn’t be where he is today, but that doesn’t change how good he is today. Sports are different than most industries. Usually nepotism results in incompetence, but in sports it tends to breed better coaches and players.
Nepotism, or familiarity?
Yesn’t