The veteran Michigan coach, who won the team’s first national championship since 1997, is widely regarded as the
front-runner for the job.
The Chargers and Jim Harbaugh seem to be in a position where something may happen soon, according to NFL
Network’s Mike Garafolo. “From what I understand, they have given him a very attractive cash offer. This brings
them to the point where they will talk about hiring the general manager and, of course, the coaching staff, who will
work with Harbaugh.
In each of the previous three offseasons, Harbaugh has toyed with the notion of bringing back the professionals.
Harbaugh interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings opening after leading Michigan to its first College Football Playoff
berth in 2021; however, the position went to Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
After losing to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal, there were whispers last season that
Harbugh may consider accepting an offer if the appropriate team approached him. He apparently attracted interest
from other organizations and conducted a virtual interview with the Denver Broncos, but in the end he chose to run
it back in Ann Arbor.
Ever since the NCAA started looking into the sign-stealing incident in October, there has been a perception that
Harbaugh will quit collegiate football to try to win a Super Bowl. The NCAA has not yet issued a final decision about
the case involving Connor Stallions, who is accused of buying tickets to over 35 games at 17 different stadiums
throughout the nation that featured Big Ten opponents from Michigan and prospective opponents of the College
Football Playoffs.
The school suspended Stallions on October 20 with pay, and he resigned in early November. During the last three
regular seasons, including The Game versus Ohio State, Harbaugh was suspended.
Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to three straight conference crowns, the longest winning streak for Michigan since
1995–1997. Harbaugh has defeated the Buckeyes in each of the previous three seasons.
Harbaugh and the Chargers have a long connection that dates back to their days in San Diego. Between 1999 and
2000, Harbaugh spent two seasons as a quarterback for the Chargers, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards, eighteen
touchdowns, and twenty-four interceptions.
After succeeding his father, Alex Spanos, as the Chargers’ owner in 1994, Dean Spanos had a significant role in luring
Harbaugh to the team as a player.
Given his links to the state, California also appears to be a top choice for Harbaugh. Before taking the helm at the
University of San Diego in 2004, he started his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders
from 2002 to 2003. After taking over at Stanford for four seasons (2007–10), Harbaugh was named head coach of
the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.
Harbaugh led San Francisco to three NFC
playoff appearances and a Super Bowl
berth in his four seasons there. Before
agreeing to a mutual separation with the
49ers in December 2014 to accept the
Michigan position, he had a 44-19-1 record.
“This has felt like Harbaugh has had his
eyes locked on returning to the NFL and
this could be the move in the near future –
to Los Angeles, back to California where
he’s coached before, where he’s played
before, where he’d be comfortable,” said
Garafolo.
According to ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons have also asked Harbaugh for a second interview in case Los Angeles decides
to focus elsewhere. The first interview with Atlanta took place on Tuesday, the experienced coach’s first after
longtime New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick retired.
