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Chargers Fallout: Harbaugh, Hortiz, Herbert, Staff, Minter, Michigan, Falcons

January 26th, 2024 at 10:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Chargers reside in a different city than they did during Jim Harbaugh‘s time with the team as a quarterback, he will reunite with the organization that once gave him an opportunity as his career wound down. It took a big salary and appears to have brought considerable autonomy to complete this transaction.

Harbaugh signed a five-year contract, and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz indicates the longtime Michigan HC is likely to have final say when it comes to personnel matters. Teams are often reluctant to provide this for head coaches, but Harbaugh brought leverage — due to the interest the Falcons showed and the offers Michigan made to keep him — that allowed him to maximize his position.

The Falcons had scheduled a second interview, but Harbaugh ended up postponing it. Harbaugh may or may not have intended to make that trip, but he used it during talks with the Chargers, who had long been the frontrunners in this race.

The Bolts did not give any of their Tom Telesco-era HCs final say, with the GM running the show. The team frequently struggled to turn Telesco’s well-regarded rosters into playoff berths, however, and Dean Spanos said ownership would spend time considering how it organized its power structure. It appears Harbaugh did enough to justify an HC-centric operation. Harbaugh, 60, also used president John Spanos‘ comments pushing back on the Chargers’ perceived frugality when it comes to HC spending to his advantage in negotiations, Schultz notes, adding the Chargers’ openness in giving such power to a head coach separated them during this year’s hiring period.

This contract is worth more than the $12.5MM-per-year deal Michigan is believed to have offered, and even if it falls short of the $18MM salary range Sean Payton established last year, Harbaugh will be given more control than any of the other HCs hired this year. The nine-year Wolverines HC appears prepared to bring his most recent DC — Jesse Minter — with him to Los Angeles, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Other staffers are likely to follow, per Schultz. Harbaugh made it a point during Bolts talks to mention bringing analytics staffers from Ann Arbor as well.

The power the Bolts are giving Harbaugh understandably gives him a considerable say in where the team’s GM search ends. This became a sticking point for Harbaugh, per Schultz. Given how his 49ers tenure concluded, it is logical this became a priority for the accomplished HC. Harbaugh’s feud with Trent Baalke and issues with 49ers ownership led him out the door after four years, bringing a steep freefall for the team before Kyle Shanahan — given a six-year contract due to what transpired in Baalke’s final years — began to pick up the pieces.

As for where the Bolts go at GM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicates Ravens exec Joe Hortiz is considered the favorite by some around the league. Hortiz, the Ravens’ director of player personnel, has extensive ties to the Harbaugh family and has been in Baltimore for nearly the franchise’s entire existence. This would stand to better prepare him for the potential challenge of working with Jim Harbaugh.

Hortiz has worked alongside John Harbaugh since the latter’s arrival in 2008 but has been with the Ravens since 1998. Prior to his 2019 promotion under GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz spent 10 years as the team’s director of college scouting. Hortiz joins Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown as the only candidates the Chargers have brought in twice.

Unsurprisingly, Justin Herbert‘s status loomed as a Harbaugh draw. Many around the NFL pointed to Harbaugh showing interest in elevating Herbert — who supplies one of the top QB skillsets in the game today — after an inconsistent recent run, Fowler adds. Harbaugh worked wonders for Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco and is coming off a run with J.J. McCarthy that ended in a convincing national championship result. Via the extension he inked last summer, Herbert is tied to the Chargers through the 2029 season. Only Patrick Mahomes‘ contract runs beyond that timeframe.

Stanford went 1-11 during its final pre-Harbaugh season; the Cardinal finished 12-1 in 2010, propelling Harbaugh to the 49ers. San Francisco had missed eight straight playoff fields prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 arrival; he moved the team to three consecutive NFC championship games. Harbaugh’s .695 win percentage is the best among NFL coaches who started their careers since the 1970 merger. While the former Chargers QB’s style may not be for everyone, the success he has achieved on the sideline convinced the Chargers to revamp their organization to bring him in.

Buccaneers Arranging OC Interviews With Kellen Moore, Zac Robinson, Ken Dorsey, Brian Johnson

January 26th, 2024 at 12:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tampa Bay experienced a batter-than-expected season on offense with first-year coordinator Dave Canales in charge of the unit. He has departed to become head coach of the Panthers, however, leaving the Buccaneers in need of a new OC for the second straight year.

A list of targets has begun to emerge. Tampa will speak with Chargers OC Kellen Moore on Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Colleague Ian Rapoport adds that Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson has received a Bucs interview request. The team also plans to speak with ex-Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who notes his Tampa interview will take place next week. Lastly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports ousted Eagles OC Brian Johnson has a Buccaneers interview lined up.

Moore’s future with the Chargers has not yet been determined, but with Jim Harbaugh now in place, he is likely to bring his own assistants aboard. That could lead to a number of opportunities for Moore, who joined L.A.’s staff last offseason after a successful run with the Cowboys. The 34-year-old has also been connected to the Browns and Eagles during this year’s hiring cycle, so he could have a few options to choose from in the event he does wind up in a new home for the second offseason in a row.

Robinson has been one of the hottest coordinator candidates in 2024. He has interviewed three times so far, and he has received a request from an additional three teams including today’s slip from Tampa Bay. Robinson, 37, has been with the Rams since 2019, spending much of his time working with the team’s quarterbacks. For each of the past two seasons, he has held the additional title of passing game coordinator. Staffers often make the jump from that combination of roles to a coordinator gig, and Robinson doing the same would leave a signficant vacancy for Sean McVay to fill.

Dorsey saw his run with the Bills come to an end midway through the 2023 season. Buffalo’s offense went in a different direction under interim OC Joe Brady, whose success down the stretch has him in consideration for the full-time position. Still, Dorsey is on the radar for a new coordinator opportunity right away, having interviewed with the Browns. The 42-year-old’s Buffalo stint was his only NFL coordinator position to date, but he has extensive experience as a QBs coach.

Johnson was promoted to OC of the Eagles last year, and his familiarity with Jalen Hurts and the team’s offense led to signficant expectations despite Shane Steichen‘s departure. Earlier in the year, Philadelphia performed well in a number of areas, and the team put up solid overall numbers in several offensive categories. As was the case on defense, however, things took a turn for the worse late in the year through the wild-card round of the postseason. Johnson was dismissed as part of the Eagles’ staff overhaul, but he took head coaching interviews before that, and he is also on the OC radar.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoyed a productive campaign under Canales, and keeping the former in place will be a key offseason priority for Tampa Bay. One of the most important factors in replicating Mayfield’s success will of course be the latter’s replacement, and the Bucs could have competition for some of the most in-demand candidates. Their search will start to take shape in the coming days.

Browns, Eagles Request OC Interviews With Chargers’ Kellen Moore

January 25th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Jim Harbaugh now in place as head coach of the Chargers, the team’s coordinator positions could soon be subject to changes. OC Kellen Moore faces an uncertain future, but he is drawing outside interest.

Both the Browns and Eagles have requested an interview with Moore for their respective OC openings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. It will be interesting to see how willing the Chargers are to let Moore depart in a lateral move given Harbaugh’s arrival. Greg Roman – who has a long-standing relationship with the latter – has already been floated as a name to watch for Los Angeles’ new staff.

Cleveland moved on from Alex Van Pelt, one of the league’s OCs who did not hold play-calling responsibilities. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has called plays since his arrival with the Browns, but he would likely need to hand the reins over to Moore if an agreement were to be struck. It is already known, on the other hand, that the Eagles’ next OC will call plays and hold a degree of independence from head coach Nick Sirianni. Moore will meet with Philadelphia today, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Moore began his NFL coaching career in 2018 as QBs coach of the Cowboys. After just one season in that capacity, he was promoted to OC and had a four-year run in charge of Dallas’ offense. Over that span, the Cowboys led the league in scoring twice and ranked top-10 in both rushing and passing production three separate times. Head coach Mike McCarthy elected to move on last offseason, however, taking over play-calling duties himself.

As a result, Moore took on the OC position with the Chargers, something which came with substantial expectations given his stock and the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert. The latter missed the end of the season due to injury, but even when healthy he and the offense put up middling numbers. Moore interviewed once for L.A.’s head coaching vacancy, but it came as little surprise that he did not receive serious consideration for the position.

The 34-year-old’s time in Dallas generated a reputation for him as one of the league’s top offensive minds, and this year’s underwhelming performance will likely not do much to dissuade interested teams from at least speaking to him. Moore’s name will be worth watching closely on the coordinator market if Harbaugh follows through with bringing in his own staffers.

Chargers Hire Jim Harbaugh As HC

January 24th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jim Harbaugh rearranged his interview schedule this week, and it turns out no more meetings will be in the cards. The Chargers will complete this long-rumored hire. The Bolts are set to name Harbaugh as their next head coach, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.

The 60-year-old coach will return to the NFL after nine seasons at his alma mater. Harbaugh’s stock veered to a strange place, thanks to Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal last season, but his NFL value never appeared to take a substantial hit. On the heels of the Wolverines’ national championship, the former 49ers HC will pick the Chargers as his NFL return vehicle.

This comes nearly 24 years after the former quarterback took his final NFL snaps, which came as a member of the Chargers. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract Wednesday, Schefter reports. This nearly overlaps with the extension Justin Herbert signed last year; Herbert is signed through 2029.

After interviewing for the Vikings and Broncos’ jobs over the past two offseasons, respectively, Harbaugh reached an agreement to return to the NFL — a previously stated goal. His arrival will give the AFC West three coaches who have led teams to Super Bowls. Harbaugh will arrive as an Andy Reid challenger a year after Sean Payton did. While Payton was interested in this job as the 2022 season progressed, the Bolts held onto Brandon Staley for a third season. With the team moving on from Staley, it set out to land a higher-profile leader. Harbaugh checks that box, having been a winning coach everywhere he has been.

Upon firing Staley in mid-December, the Bolts sent out Harbaugh feelers. This process accelerated from there. Harbaugh also interviewed with the Falcons, but the sides’ second meeting — scheduled for today — did not come to pass. Atlanta will look elsewhere, while Harbaugh assembles a staff in Los Angeles. Long accused of skimping on their head coaches, the Chargers are believed to have upper-crust salary parameters in place with Harbaugh. Negotiations this week are believed to have produced a figure north of the $12.5MM-per-year offer Michigan made.

Harbaugh returns to the NFL as a historically successful coach, in terms of win percentage. While a Super Bowl title eluded Jim Harbaugh against his brother 11 years ago, the younger sibling’s .695 win percentage — compiled from 2011-14 in San Francisco — ranks fifth in NFL history. That number, however, leads all coaches who began their career after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

The Chargers regularly assembled well-regarded rosters in recent years, but they have routinely fallen short of expectations. During Tom Telesco‘s GM run, the team went 3-for-11 in playoff appearances — these seasons all coming with Herbert or Philip Rivers at quarterback. Harbaugh guided the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games with Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick at the controls. Coaching Herbert naturally appealed to this year’s lot of coaching candidates, and Harbaugh’s work with Smith and Kaepernick effectively illustrates his coaching acumen. Ditto Michigan’s recent run, which includes three straight CFP appearances and a convincing win over Washington in this year’s title game.

Herbert’s presence and a return to California — where Harbaugh has coached in four cities in the college and pro ranks — provided a natural appeal. The Chargers making a much bigger financial commitment will as well. Harbaugh will follow first-timers Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley, residing in a different stratosphere in terms of prestige. The Chargers joined the Raiders in expressing significant Harbaugh interest at the end of the regular season, but the Silver and Black did not opt to interview any of this year’s top candidates, instead elevating Antonio Pierce to the full-time post. This left the Chargers as the Harbaugh favorites, and the sides used this week’s second interview to discuss staffing.

Ex-49ers and Ravens OC Greg Roman has been mentioned as a candidate to rejoin Harbaugh, but no coordinators are in place yet. Neither is a GM. One finalist, Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, has emerged. It was long assumed Harbaugh would want to handpick his GM, but that does not appear the case any longer. Although Harbaugh and ex-49ers GM Trent Baalke‘s feud is largely responsible for his 2015 San Francisco exit, the fiery HC is not believed to be strongarming the Chargers on this front. That said, the Bolts will assuredly hire a front office boss that Harbaugh approves.

Prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 San Francisco arrival, the 49ers had missed eight straight playoff brackets. Their stampede to three consecutive NFC title games included a comeback win over the Falcons in the 2012 conference decider, leading to a Super Bowl XLVII appearance that ended with the Harbaugh-Kaepernick operation on the doorstep of completing a historic rally. Herbert is more talented than either of the QBs Harbaugh worked with to reach that stage, setting the stage for one of the most interesting stretches in franchise history.

Harbaugh, whose two-year run as a Bolts quarterback transpired just before the team drafted Drew Brees, will have some other roster issues to address. Injuries have been a notorious issue for this franchise, with each of the team’s skill-position regulars sustaining notable setbacks over the past two seasons. Austin Ekeler is a free agent, while Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are each attached to $20MM-per-year deals. Allen will be 32 this year, while Williams (29) is coming off an ACL tear. The Bolts possess some pieces up front, headlined by Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, and have both edge rushers (Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack) under contract for 2024. Bosa, however, is attached to a $27MM-AAV accord and has continually encountered injuries.

After restructuring Allen, Williams, Bosa and Mack’s contracts last year, the Chargers are projected to be more than $45MM over the 2024 cap. Only three teams are in worse situations presently. While the Bolts are hiring Harbaugh for the long haul, he is 60 and lasted only four years during his previous NFL run. The roster issues coming up will be pivotal, given Herbert’s presence and the $52.5MM-per-year contract to which he is tied.

Upon firing Staley, owner Dean Spanos said the team would make an effort to reimagine its operation. Team president John Spanos confirmed he has a regular role in football ops, having come up through the scouting ranks with the family-owned franchise. Harbaugh’s presence will likely come with more control than the Chargers have given to their previous coaches.

Considering Michigan’s effort to retain Harbaugh and the Falcons entering the pursuit, the veteran coach carried substantial leverage. As Big Ten fans will surely note, this NFL jump will also be a way for Harbaugh to evade an NCAA suspension for the above-referenced scandal. He served two three-game bans in 2023, for different infractions, but potentially faced more punishment. That topic came up during his recent Wolverines re-up talks.

Excluding Sid Gillman‘s AFL tenure, the Chargers have underachieved for most of their history. Air Coryell could not book them a Super Bowl berth. Neither could the Brees draft choice or the Rivers acquisition. Only a 1994 one-off did the trick. The franchise will entrust Herbert’s prime to Harbaugh, making for one of the most fascinating partnerships in recent NFL history.

Chargers To Bring In Ravens’ Joe Hortiz For Second GM Interview

January 24th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Ely Allen

After landing their desired option at head coach earlier today, the Chargers appear to be moving forward with their hiring process for a new general manager. After hosting Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown today for a second interview, the Chargers are now set to host Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz for a second, in-person interview tomorrow, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Hortiz has worked his way through the ranks in Baltimore’s front office since joining the franchise in 1998. Beginning in the scouting department, he became the team’s director of college scouting and enjoyed considerable success in the role. Hortiz held that position for 10 years before being promoted once again in 2019. He has overseen both pro and college scouting ever since.

The Chargers have been without Tom Telesco at the helm since he was dismissed alongside Brandon Staley midway through the season. The team thus has a vacancy at general manager for the first time since 2013. As is the case for the team’s coaching search, the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert on a long-term deal will likely make the Los Angeles posting an attractive one, but the roster does include a number of veterans on pricey contracts. Plenty of work will need to be done over the short and long term for the new general manager to sustainably set the team up for postseason contention during Herbert’s prime.

Here is an updated look at the Chargers’ GM search:

Falcons, Michigan Still In Play For Jim Harbaugh

January 24th, 2024 at 12:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:22pm: The Atlanta meeting is on hold. Harbaugh will not go through with his second Falcons interview today, The Athletic’s Josh Kendall reports. The parties could circle back, but the postponing or canceling of an interview obviously does not bode too well for a Harbaugh path to Georgia.

11:27am: Harbaugh’s second Falcons interview is scheduled for today, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Michigan HC has spent the early part of his week in Los Angeles in serious discussions with the Chargers. Harbaugh trekking to Atlanta at this stage could certainly throw off Chargers talks, though he has been rather effective at maximizing his leverage in the recent past. A bidding war would do the trick. Schultz also confirms Michigan is not bowing out, making a continued push to retain the accomplished sideline bastion.

10:43am: As of Wednesday morning, the Chargers appear the favorites to employ Jim Harbaugh in 2024. But the two other teams interested in the national championship-winning head coach are not bowing out.

A return to Michigan remains in play for the nine-year Wolverines leader, according to the Washington Post’s Mark Maske. Harbaugh interviewed for NFL jobs in each of the previous two offseasons before ultimately staying at Michigan. The Big Ten program and its successful but polarizing HC have been in discussions on an extension for several weeks, but Harbaugh-Chargers talks have overshadowed Michigan negotiations.

[RELATED: 2024 Head Coaching Search Tracker]

The prospect of Harbaugh again backtracking and staying in Ann Arbor is viewed as more remote this time around, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes. The Wolverines are believed to have made multiple extension offers to Harbaugh, one a 10-year, $125MM deal. The latest update here included Harbaugh seeking several provisions in the deal, one believed to be assurance the Wolverines would not fire him if an NCAA suspension in connection with Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal comes to pass. The Chargers would need to pay Michigan $1.5MM to hire Harbaugh; the school is also attempting to bump that number to $4MM.

Already suspended twice in 2023, Harbaugh could face a harsher punishment from the NCAA for his alleged role in the scandal. He has since hired an agent and met with two teams. This all points to the former 49ers HC determining 2024 to be his NFL return window. It is not decided Los Angeles will be the place for it, though the Bolts remain in the lead. Harbaugh’s second Bolts interview is believed to have produced an agreement on salary.

The Falcons have also attempted to set up a second Harbaugh meeting, and Pauline adds the fiery HC has family in Florida. The subject of Harbaugh’s family relocating is key here, per Pauline, though the former 49ers, Stanford and University of San Diego HC obviously has extensive ties in California. Harbaugh saw his final NFL action as a Chargers quarterback and began coaching on the then-Oakland Raiders’ staff soon after. But the Falcons are believed to be prioritizing experience this time around. They have interviewed Bill Belichick twice and are expected to meet with Mike Vrabel. The assumed Atlanta frontrunner, Belichick may be losing some steam as the sides discuss how a fit would work.

Harbaugh’s Chargers meetings have gone well, and Maske adds discussions are ongoing. One source informed Pauline the Harbaugh-to-L.A. scenario should be given a 90% chance to happen. The Chargers have begun their second round of GM interviews, likely with a Harbaugh pairing in mind. While we could be hours away from this hire coming to pass, the Bolts remain without a head coach for now.

Giants’ Brandon Brown Books Second Chargers GM Interview

January 24th, 2024 at 10:12am CST by Sam Robinson

Seemingly close to hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach, the Chargers look to be moving toward finalists for their GM position. Brandon Brown will be the first candidate given a second interview for the post.

The Giants’ assistant GM, Brown is in Los Angeles today for a second meeting, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Brown, whom the Giants hired in 2022, also interviewed for the Panthers’ GM position. Carolina ended its search this week by promoting assistant GM Dan Morgan.

Although Harbaugh would undoubtedly need to be paired with a GM he would not object to, a recent report indicated the veteran HC would not force the Chargers into a GM hire of his choosing. Harbaugh famously feuded with then-49ers GM Trent Baalke during their time together in San Francisco, helping lead the former to Michigan after four years.

Other Chargers HC candidates are still in the mix, but Harbaugh is the first to be given a second interview. With that meeting believed to have produced an agreement on Harbaugh’s HC salary, it would not surprise if a hire followed soon. As of now, the Chargers still have openings for their HC and GM roles.

A rising young exec, Brown joined Joe Schoen‘s Giants front office after years in Philadelphia. Brown also interviewed for the Vikings’ GM job in 2022, but this offseason’s GM carousel has featured a more prominent place for Schoen’s right-hand man. As shown on PFR’s General Manager Search Tracker, here is how the Bolts’ search looks as of Wednesday morning:

Latest On Chargers, Jim Harbaugh

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

It now looks like it would be an upset if Jim Harbaugh is not coaching Justin Herbert next season. While the longtime Michigan HC has been known to go through with extensive NFL flirtations during the 2020s, the Chargers are much farther down the road here compared where the Vikings and Broncos ventured in the past two offseasons.

Harbaugh is going through his second interview with the Chargers, and this meeting looks to be about more than his mere candidacy. Assistants are being discussed, and Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero reports the sides are believed to be in agreement on salary.

The Bolts, who have not hired a coach with previous NFL HC experience since bringing in Norv Turner in 2007, have attempted to push back on the narrative they are cheap when it comes to coach spending. Harbaugh’s would-be salary looks set to back that up. They have offered more than Michigan, per Salguero, who indicates the “extremely strong” proposal the Bolts made surpasses the $12.5MM-per-year number from his Wolverines talks.

Harbaugh’s next NFL salary would not hit his initial asking price, however, with Salguero adding that number is believed to have checked in around $18MM. That aligns with what the Broncos are believed to be paying Sean Payton. Denver brass, which met with Harbaugh twice last year, gave Payton the monster salary due to his credentials and the leverage he held. With FOX at the time, Payton was linked to having interest in the Chargers’ job. The team did not fire Brandon Staley following the 27-point collapse in Jacksonville, helping lead Payton Denver via trade. Payton’s Super Bowl win and the potential for the ex-Saints HC waiting another year — perhaps for the Bolts’ job — gave him rare leverage, and he is believed to be earning a top-five coaching salary.

The Chargers’ past three searches produced first-time HCs (Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, Staley); Harbaugh’s experience laps those candidates’. His four-year win percentage from the 49ers period (.695) ranks fifth in NFL history — higher than any active NFL coach. The 60-year-old leader is also coming off a national championship.

Also linked to a potential Harbaugh pursuit, the Raiders having followed through with their long-rumored Antonio Pierce promotion left Harbaugh with one less option. The Falcons have a second interview scheduled, but they have also been closely linked to Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel and others. Vrabel met about the Chargers’ vacancy last week, but it certainly appears he trails Harbaugh.

Personnel matters are also on today’s agenda, per Salguero. Harbaugh and Trent Baalke famously feuded during the latter’s time as 49ers GM, leading to a power struggle that sent Harbaugh to his alma mater. While Harbaugh is not exactly a universally liked presence among NFL front office figures, his coaching credentials are strong. He would undoubtedly carry significant input regarding the Chargers’ next GM hire, though it is not believed he would force a GM on the Bolts.

This process appears near the goal line, but it will be interesting if more updates come on the Michigan side; negotiations on another extension have transpired for weeks. Harbaugh has returned to the college ranks after the meetings with the Vikes and Broncos, but a long-rumored NFL return appears close.

Pete Carroll Pushing For Chargers’ HC Job?

January 23rd, 2024 at 12:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Pete Carroll is one of the top names on this year’s coaching carousel, the 14-year Seahawks leader has not met with a team about its HC position. It appears he is trying to change that.

Carroll had wanted to keep going with the Seahawks, admitting he made an aggressive pitch to stay on. The Seahawks instead kicking him to an advisory role leaves the energetic leader’s NFL future uncertain. But Carroll is believed to have attempted to land another gig. The 72-year-old coach has been making a behind-the-scenes push to land the Chargers’ job, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

While both the Chargers and Falcons have Jim Harbaugh on their respective radars, the Michigan HC is now most closely linked to the Bolts’ opening. The Chargers have made Harbaugh an offer viewed as “extremely strong,” and Harbaugh assistants are already circulating. The Chargers have satisfied the Rooney Rule, and although Harbaugh has been in talks with his current employer about an extension for weeks, it would not surprise to see him make Los Angeles his vehicle for an NFL comeback after nine years in the college ranks.

Carroll and Harbaugh coached against each other throughout the latter’s time in San Francisco, most memorably in a tightly contested 2013 NFC championship game the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks won. While Carroll has coached in two Super Bowls as a head coach and has a ring from Super Bowl XLVIII, his Seattle defenses have declined over the past several years. Over the past two, the Seahawks ranked 30th in total defense. That understandably interfered with his hopes of coming back for a 15th season, with longtime GM ally John Schneider now running the show in Seattle.

It would stand to reason teams would still be interested in Carroll, given his accomplishments, but the two oldest members on this year’s HC carousel — Carroll and Bill Belichick — have not received substantial interest. At least, not from multiple teams. Belichick remains closely linked to the Atlanta HC opening, interviewing twice. But the 24-year Patriots HC has not met with any other team.

Belichick, who is 71, is less than a year younger than Carroll, who was the NFL’s oldest HC last season. No team has hired a head coach older than 66 in NFL history, with only four coaches (Carroll, George Halas, Marv Levy, Romeo Crennel) in league annals coaching a game at 72 or older. Carroll’s age will undoubtedly impede his quest to land a fourth NFL HC gig. It is nonetheless interesting Carroll is trying to land in Los Angeles, where he spent nine years coaching USC in the 2000s.

Chargers, Jim Harbaugh Meeting For Second Time; Parties Working Toward Agreement?

January 23rd, 2024 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Jim Harbaugh‘s second interview with the Chargers marks another important milestone in his presumed return to the NFL. The latest update on the situation points to an agreement potentially being on the horizon.

Harbaugh’s second interview is taking place today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes (video link). It was reported yesterday that the parties would meet for a second time, so it comes as little surprise that a follow-up has been worked out rather quickly.

Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo adds that Los Angeles has made an “extremely strong offer” to Harbaugh, whose value has spiked in the wake of an undefeated, championship-winning season at Michigan. He is still in the process of negotiating a new Wolverines extension, but interest involving the Chargers is not seen as a mere ploy to leverage a better incentive package, Garafolo explains.

Rather, talks between Los Angeles and Harbaugh have progressed to the point where coaching and front office staffs are being discussed. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Greg Roman could be a top candidate to take on offensive coordinator duties. A Harbaugh-led Chargers staff could also, to little surprise, include familiar faces at the other coordinator spots. Wilson names Michigan DC Jesse Minter and Harbaugh’s son Jay as options to lead L.A.’s defense and special teams, respectively.

Harbaugh has been connected to the Chargers early and often this year, and a report pointed to him being particularly interested in the Los Angeles gig. The team, in turn, is believed to be the favorite to land him in the event he does indeed return to an NFL sideline. Harbaugh has been at Michigan since his 49ers tenure came to an end in 2014. His four-year tenure in the Bay Area included a .695 winning percentage and a Super Bowl appearance, though, and his strong performances have continued with the Wolverines in recent years in particular.

Harbaugh also has a second interview scheduled with the Falcons, but the urgency which the Chargers appear to be showing could make that meeting a moot point. As Pelissero notes, Los Angeles has satisfied the Rooney Rule’s requirements of in-person interviews with at least two external minority candidates. As a result, an agreement with Harbaugh (or any other coach) could take place at any time.

The 60-year-old met with the Vikings and Broncos over the past two hiring cycles, keeping his name in the conversation for a jump from the college game back to the pros. Neither case saw that take place, but Harbaugh’s contract demands with Michigan and his decision to hire an agent have pointed to 2024 as being a strong possibility for his return date regarding an NFL gig.

Harbaugh finished his playing career with the Chargers, and a return to the franchise in a coaching capacity could give the team a high-profile Brandon Staley replacement. Los Angeles has not met for a second time with any other candidate, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team was expected to issue requests at some point this week. That has yet to take place, another sign that Harbaugh may soon be tapped as the Chargers’ next head coach.

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