Jim Harbaugh is reportedly considering a return to the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jim Harbaugh is reportedly considering a return to the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. This potential move follows his recent success in winning the College Football Playoff National Championship with the University of Michigan.
The Los Angeles Chargers have announced Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach. Harbaugh, a former Chargers quarterback, has spent the past nine years coaching college football at the University of Michigan. During his time there, he led Michigan to three Big Ten Championships and clinched the 2023 National Championship with an undefeated 15-0 season.
“Jim Harbaugh embodies the spirit of football, and we’re excited to have him lead the Chargers,” said Dean Spanos, Owner and Chairman of the Board. “With his rich football lineage and mentorship under legendary coaches like Schembechler and Ditka, Harbaugh has a proven track record of success. Now, he returns to the Chargers, this time as our head coach.”
“You don’t build a resume like Jim’s by accident, and you don’t do it by yourself,” said John Spanos, President of Football Operations. “You need a team. And nobody has built a team more successfully, and repeatedly, in recent history than Jim Harbaugh. His former players swear by him, and his opponents swear at him. Jim is one of one, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back in the Chargers organization as our head coach.”
Harbaugh is celebrated for his winning track record. In college football, he secured 144 victories and suffered only 52 losses. Transitioning to the NFL, he attained 49 wins, endured 22 losses, and tied once. During his brief four-year tenure coaching the San Francisco 49ers, he led them to three NFC Championship Games and guided them to a Super Bowl appearance.
Harbaugh has a talent for recognizing and developing players. During his nine-year tenure at Michigan (2015-2023), he coached nine eventual first-round picks. In his four years with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), he guided 17 players to a combined 30 Pro Bowl selections, ranking among the highest in the NFL during that time. Among these players were standouts like Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, both recognized as first-team All-Pro selections by The Associated Press.
Expressing his affection for Michigan, Harbaugh said, “My time there was special, and I’ll always be loyal to the Wolverines.” He also spoke of feeling grateful for coaching opportunities at various places, including the Chargers, where he played earlier in his career. Harbaugh feels welcomed and at home returning to the Chargers.
“As a coach, you start at the bottom and work your way up. We’re focused on continual improvement every day. My priorities are faith, family, and football, and we’ll tackle each with plenty of enthusiasm. The organization is fully committed to winning and is putting in the effort to make it happen. We believe hard work pays off, and we’re just getting started.”
Harbaugh, a highly accomplished coach, led Michigan to an impressive 86-25 record in nine seasons. His teams secured over 10 wins six times and made three College Football Playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023, clinching the national title last season with a record-breaking 15 wins. Since 2015, Michigan has boasted one of the nation’s best defenses, allowing only 291.0 yards per game. They ranked among the top five defenses in the country five times, including two seasons as the best defense nationality.
Harbaugh was honored as the 2011 NFL Coach of the Year by The Associated Press following his debut season with the San Francisco 49ers. Under his guidance, the team secured the NFC West division title with an impressive 13-3 record. During this season, the 49ers’ defense excelled, leading the league with 38 takeaways and boasting the top rushing defense, allowing just 77.3 yards per game on the ground. They advanced to the NFC Championship Game and also reached Super Bowl XLVII in 2012.
Throughout Harbaugh’s four-year tenure with the 49ers, the team showcased strong defensive performances, leading in rushing defense and ranking highly in scoring defense, total defense, and takeaways.
Prior to coaching in the NFL, Harbaugh achieved success as a coach at Stanford University and the University of San Diego. At Stanford, he transformed a struggling program, tallying 29 victories over four seasons, including an Orange Bowl triumph in 2010. His coaching journey began at the University of San Diego, where he amassed an impressive 29-6 record over three years.
Harbaugh began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2002 to 2003. In his first season, the Raiders reached Super Bowl XXXVII, with quarterback Rich Gannon winning MVP and earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Before coaching, Harbaugh had a successful 15-year career as an NFL quarterback, playing for various teams, including the Chargers from 1999 to 2000. He also began coaching while still playing in the NFL, serving as an unpaid assistant at Western Kentucky from 1994 to 2001, where his father was the head coach.
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1987, Harbaugh played 177 games, starting 140 of them, and threw for over 26,000 yards and 129 touchdowns. He led the NFL in passer rating in 1995 and took the Colts to the AFC Championship Game.
At the University of Michigan, Harbaugh was a standout quarterback, earning All-American honors and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1986. He set records for passing efficiency that stood for over a decade after his college career.