After flirting with the NFL during recent offseasons, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is finally hanging it up with the Wolverines and moving on to test his skills at the highest level again.
According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, Harbaugh is set to accept an offer from the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his run in Ann Arbor after nine years.
It was a rough beginning and middle for Harbaugh, but his last three years at Michigan resulted in three straight wins over archrival Ohio State, three consecutive Big Ten championships and three College Football Playoff appearances in a row. The last of which ended with a national title this season.
Harbaugh finishes his Michigan tenure with an overall record of 86-25, but his legacy will be one of polarization, especially with potential NCAA penalties hanging over the program from allegedly contact with recruits during a dead period and the sign-stealing saga that is still being investigated. He was suspended for three games at two different points this season stemming from both.
Harbaugh is no stranger to the NFL. He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014, leading the team to three straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Breaking: Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan to accept the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, sources tell ESPN.
The Chargers get their man while the national champions now have a head-coach opening. pic.twitter.com/e937qd03hP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2024
His departure will no doubt leave the Michigan program in a lurch. The Wolverines lose a wealth of experience and talent on the coaching staff. And we’ve seen other programs — namely Alabama — see numerous player defections after a head coach leaves. The watch will be on for the next 30 days to see what happens with the roster in Ann Arbor.
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