Life is good for Jim Harbaugh right now. Fresh off a national championship as the head coach of his alma mater, the former Michigan Wolverines leader has now taken his talents to Los Angeles to be the head coach of the Chargers.
After accomplishing all he could in the college ranks, it’s now time for Harbaugh to move back on up to the NFL world, and he got paid handsomely to do so. We take a closer look at the reported size of Harbaugh’s yearly salary.
Jim Harbaugh’s Salary
What’s known about Harbaugh’s salary is the fact that he signed a five-year deal worth $80 million, an average annual value of $16 million.
It’s a hefty payday for an accomplished head coach looking to turn the tide in L.A. for a Chargers team that is talented but largely underachieved under the leadership of Brandon Staley.
The price NFL teams are willing to pay for quality coaches will only continue to go up. And when you win, it can even balloon further. The Chargers can only hope that’s something that have to deal with at some point down the road.
Harbaugh’s signing comes on the heels of the team firing Staley after an embarrassing Week 15 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Los Angeles finished the season a disappointing 5-12 but now has the fifth pick in the upcoming NFL Draft that Harbaugh will be tasked with getting the most out of.
Harbaugh’s Résumé Speaks for Itself
In an NFL world where head coaches seem to be getting younger and less experienced, Harbaugh is on the opposite end of that spectrum. He comes to L.A. with a body of work that can bring hope to an organization that needs it.
Harbaugh has compiled a 144-52 record over his college coaching career at San Diego, Stanford, and Michigan and additionally was 44-19-1 in four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Fresh off the heels of a CFB national championship, Harbaugh’s stock has never been higher as he now aims to continue that success in the NFL ranks.
MORE: Grading the Jim Harbaugh Hire
With a good, young quarterback in Justin Herbert to build around and a high draft pick upcoming, Harbaugh’s addition and well-placed decisions along the way, the Chargers could very well be on their way back to playoff relevance — perhaps even a little more than that.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!