Fresh off a national championship and being named the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Jim Harbaugh is unafraid to say how he feels.
Such is the case for his latest interview where he made a bold statement regarding his former Michigan quarterback.
Jim Harbaugh Makes Bold Prediction About J.J. McCarthy
On the latest episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Harbaugh took the opportunity to heap some big-time praise on his former QB J.J. McCarthy. The duo just got done winning a College Football Playoff National Championship together, and with both now transitioning to the NFL, Harbaugh believes there is a case to be made that McCarthy should be the first guy off the board in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Jim Harbaugh on J.J. McCarthy:
"Don't be surprised if and when he's the number one QB off the board. That's my prediction right now." pic.twitter.com/58kGRBEt7W
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 2, 2024
“Arm talent, athleticism, ‘it’ factor, winning with numbing repetition — don’t be surprised if, when he goes to, he’s the number one quarterback off the board,” Harbaugh started.
“That’s my prediction right now. When people get a load of J.J., how he can throw the ball, how he spins it, his athleticism, his intelligence, talk about ‘it’ factor, he’s got it. The competitiveness he has, and they get around him and start digging in and they start talking to him, yeah, that’s an early prediction for me.”
There seems to be no doubt about it — McCarthy has a real fan in his former head coach. And while the Chargers look to be set at QB with Justin Herbert, it looks as if Harbaugh is signaling for all the other 31 NFL teams to do their homework on the QB as he thinks he’s the next great one.
NFL World Reacts to Harbaugh’s McCarthy Praise
While Harbaugh may feel strongly about his former QB being the best of this class’s bunch — there don’t seem to be too many who agree with the coach right now. Naturally, as a result, the NFL world reacted to the surprising praise on social media
You know I respect Harbaugh still backing his guys, no matter how ridiculous https://t.co/JnSCOEjcOO
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 2, 2024
“You know I respect Harbaugh still backing his guys, no matter how ridiculous.”
Harbaugh tricking a franchise into over drafting McCarthy is next level mind games https://t.co/dby723nTdM
— jimmy draxler (@elgunslinger12) February 2, 2024
“Harbaugh tricking a franchise into over drafting McCarthy is next level mind games.”
Jim Harbaugh trying to convince an opposing team to waste a top pick on a bad quarterback.
The gamesmanship! https://t.co/YA4giZGrII
— kevin harrish (@Kevinish) February 2, 2024
“Jim Harbaugh trying to convince an opposing team to waste a top pick on a bad quarterback. The gamesmanship!”
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There seems to be a wide array of people who do not share the same sentiment as the Chargers head coach. Ultimately, as the draft and his career unfold, we will all get to see who gets the last laugh.
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!