JANUARY 15: Harbaugh’s Chargers interview will take place today, per multiple reports. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that nothing is imminent for either side at this point, and the coaching cycle is still in its early phases. Unattached to an NFL staff, however, Harbaugh is free to join an interested team at any point. Given the close connections made between he and the Chargers already, the takeaways from today’s interview will be worth monitoring closely.
JANUARY 13: It sounds like Jim Harbaugh has lined up his first interview of the year. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “it’s believed” that Harbaugh will meet with the Chargers next week about their head coaching vacancy. Those sources also told Pelissero and Ian Rapoport that Harbaugh has “indicated to associates” that he could leave the University of Michigan for the NFL job in Los Angeles.
[RELATED: Chargers, Raiders “Pressing Hard” For Jim Harbaugh]
While NFL assistants need to wait until January 22 for in-person HC interviews, Harbaugh is allowed to interview right away. A number of NFL teams with head coaching vacancies have been connected to a potential Harbaugh pursuit, including the Chargers, Falcons, Raiders, and Commanders. However, it’s been rumors up until this point, and it sounds like the Chargers will have the first opportunity to steal Harbaugh away from Michigan.
On the same note, the school is apparently worried about Harbaugh’s potential exit. Pelissero and Rapoport pass along that Michigan has made an effort to sign Harbaugh to a lucrative extension. This offer would obviously come in the midst of intense NFL interest, but the two reporters also note that the extension would come “in light of other recent movement within college football.” Harbaugh previously inked a 10-year, $125MM deal that keeps him under contract in Michigan through 2026.
While the Chargers have requested interviews with 11 candidates to replace Brandon Staley, the organization was set to be “pressing hard” to hire Harbaugh. In fact, with the coach having recently hired agent Don Yee, it was believed that the Chargers already submitted preliminary offers to the coach’s camp.
The Chargers also have a GM opening after firing Tom Telesco, and it was opined that Harbaugh could require full personnel control at his next NFL stop. However, Pelissero and Rapoport note that Harbaugh isn’t expected to require suitors “to allow him to hire his own GM, understanding that the structure [in] NFL buildings has changed and evolved since he last worked in the league.” Still, if the Chargers do opt for Harbaugh, there’s a good chance they’d hire a GM who has familiarity with the 60-year-old coach.
Since parting ways with the 49ers after the 2014 campaign, Harbaugh has guided Michigan to an 86-25 overall record. This includes a 37-3 record over the past three years, culminating in a National Championship win on Monday night. Per Pelissero and Rapoport, Harbaugh has spent the past few days “decompressing and making a school-sponsored victory tour,” but that hasn’t stopped the coach from considering his NFL future. Per sources, Harbaugh has been updating staff lists and examining potential openings around the NFL.
Jim Harbaugh always reminds me of John Harbaugh if John Harbaugh was exposed to a lot of radiation.
Lmao
Announcing something everyone already knows isn’t a great headline.
It’s called news…
Greta coach, but a pain the backside.
If I had a thorn in my backside but I had a higher likelihood at winning at life some would take that deal.
Great ones usually are pains because they expect higher standards especially of themselves and everyone around them.
Want to know why he’s a “pain” in the backside? Look at his 2 coaching mentors. Bo Schembechler and Mike Ditka. He learned about coaching from Bo and his dad I’m sure. and learned not to take crap from anyone from Ditka while he played for him
Bingo
The Chargers despite the Rooney Rule, which sucks
And their great interest in Jim Harbaugh and they want to hug him and squeeze him and throw all kinds of money at him
They need to find a coach who will work best with Justin Herbert and can get him back on track before he blows up his career
That is what the Chargers need to do
Hire Bill Belichick!
Maybe, but leave no stone unturned
That’s it then…done deal!
Harbaugh or bust!
So we could be looking at the following head coaching line up in the AFC West:
KC: Andy Reid
Denver: Sean Payton
Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
Raiders: Antonio Pierce
I wish some NFL team would hire him so we can stop the drama. Chances are he’ll be mediocre at best or get in a battle with the owner and finally walk away.
Name one coaching gig he’s ever been “mediocre” in.
Yeah, he was pretty mediocre at San Fran. Didn’t even win the Super Bowl.
So what you are saying here is that the Chargers have committed a blatant violation of the Rooney Rule and should be subject to loss of draft picks and millions of dollars in fines, am I getting that right? “it was believed that the Chargers already submitted preliminary offers to the coach’s camp”
Or maybe all of this Harbaugh “news” is just clickbait bullshit.
Nope, they’ve already interviewed 2 minority candidates from outside the org so they can hire anyone they want.
Do virtual interviews count? I thought they had to do in person interviews.
If the coaches are in the playoffs, then yes virtual interviews are the way they’re conducted.
Being an insane Michigan fan, I’ll say this. Harbaugh is definitely a different kind of cat. He is very eccentric and can say some strange things here and there. But if all you care about is wins for your squad, be it college or pro (and really what’s the difference now) then you’ll love him b/c the man wins wherever he is. If he’s your coach, you’ll love him. If he’s coaching a diff team in your division, you’ll hate him. Regardless, thanks for what you’ve done for my school and in all honesty I’m excited to see what we can do with someone younger at the helm.
As a Buckeye fan, I’m excited for the next Rich Rodriguez or Brady Hoke at TTUN.
Keep praying for that! If I were you I’d be more concerned with who is coaching (or trying to coach) your school! Dude is hopeless!
Play hard ball
“Respect the process !” He’s soo gone. Now help get Chargers 2promised land n ride off in2 sunset conquering both worlds, unlike the holes in Saben’s pro resume. Winning.
Follow Pete Carrol track, get in trouble run to the NFL. Like he did not know what his Assistints were up to!
He’s gone. Close out illustrious cchn career living in beautiful sunny Southern California while chasing the last piece of missing hardware frm Harb’s resume. Lead Chargers to promised land w/1st SB victory n take Herbert 2nxt level. He’s gota blueprint 4winning.