With the 2023 NFL season inching closer to its end, it means coaching searches are already active. The Los Angeles Chargers fired former head coach Brandon Staley following a Week 15 blowout loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the wake of the firing, the Chargers have begun their coaching search and their interest might dive into college football, specifically with Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh.
Jim Harbaugh Coaching Rumors
Harbaugh has been a big name in the coaching industry dating all the way back to 2004. He began his career as the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach in 2002-2003, before getting his first head coaching gig with the University of San Diego from 2004-2006.
In 2007, Harbaugh became the head coach at Stanford, where he coached until 2010. Yet, he really burst onto the scene from 2011-2014, when he was the San Francisco 49ers head coach. During that time, he took the 49ers to a Super Bowl, where they fell short to the Baltimore Ravens.
After leaving San Francisco, Harbaugh was hired by the University of Michigan in 2015, where he has since coached. The Wolverines have made the College Football Playoff and won the Big Ten the last three seasons.
Harbaugh’s career coaching record is 142-52 in college and 49-22-1 in the NFL.
The #Chargers have interest in Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh, per sources.
It’s unclear if the feeling is mutual, as Harbaugh gets set to coach the Wolverines in their third consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.
Discussing right now on the @BleacherReport app. pic.twitter.com/reNtcFbZ9t
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 20, 2023
According to Jordan Schultz with Bleacher Report, the Chargers have an interest in Harbaugh as their next head coach.
Although it is unknown if Harbaugh has a mutual interest, it was rumored he had interest in the NFL last season.
Harbaugh has also received rumored interest from other franchises, such as the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. During his playing career, Harbaugh was once a member of the Bears (1987-1993), San Diego Chargers (1999-2000), and Panthers (2001).
Amid the NFL interest Harbaugh is receiving, Michigan is looking to try and finalize a major contract extension. According to Richard Johnson of SI.com, the university is working on a contract extension worth $11 million per year for five years. The only holdup is writing from Harbaugh that he will not pursue an NFL job in 2023.
Harbaugh is currently making an annual salary of $7.34 million.
MORE: What Are the Los Angeles Chargers Seeking in New HC?
On Jan. 1, 2024, top-ranked Michigan will play fifth-ranked Alabama in the Rose Bowl and the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines are seeking their first national championship since 1997.
The Chargers, meanwhile, head into Week 16 sitting at 5-9 and fourth in the AFC West. While they aren’t technically eliminated from playoff contention just yet, their odds are less than one percent.
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