Former NFL coach Jim Harbaugh is generating a significant buzz as teams scramble to fill their head coach vacancies. Following his successful stint at the University of Michigan, where he recently led the Wolverines to a national title, Harbaugh is now reportedly meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers to discuss their coaching position, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The Chargers are one of several teams currently in search of a new head coach, with Atlanta, Carolina, Las Vegas, Seattle, Tennessee, and Washington also looking to fill their coaching vacancies.
It is worth noting that Harbaugh has a previous relationship with the Chargers and the Spanos family, who own the team. He played for the Bolts in the late 1990s and early 2000s before retiring after the 2001 season. This existing connection could potentially play a role in his decision-making process.
The Chargers' coaching position became available after the team fired Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco on December 15th, following a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
During a recent availability at Disneyland before the Rose Bowl, Harbaugh was asked about his potential interest in returning to the NFL and specifically about the Chargers. He gave a vague response, indicating that his focus remained on taking things one day at a time: 'Such a one-track mind. That’s the way we’re going about things. Literally, whatever day we’re in, looking to get the most out of it, dominate the day, then we’re going to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow and see if we can’t dominate that day,' he said.
Since leading Michigan to their national title victory, Harbaugh has been taking time off to decompress. The Wolverines held a parade and ceremony to celebrate their championship. Now, Harbaugh's attention seems to be shifting towards a potential return to the NFL.
Harbaugh's coaching career includes successful stints in the NFL. He led the San Francisco 49ers to a 44-19-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance in 2013, where they ultimately lost against the Baltimore Ravens, coached by his brother, John.
Despite his achievements at Michigan, including the recent national title, it was a challenging year for Harbaugh. He faced suspensions from both the NCAA and the Big Ten. The NCAA suspended him for the first three games due to a Level I violation, accusing him of misleading investigators. Additionally, he was suspended for the last three regular-season games by the Big Ten for violating the conference's sportsmanship policy over alleged sign-stealing. The university has also received a notice of allegations for Level II NCAA recruiting violations during the pandemic.
To potentially facilitate his NFL return, Harbaugh recently hired Don Yee as his new agent. Yee, whose clientele includes renowned quarterback Tom Brady, also represents Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
Harbaugh's interest in returning to the NFL has been evident over the past couple of years. He interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings two years ago and held discussions with the Broncos and Carolina Panthers last year.
The Chargers have been actively conducting interviews for their head coach vacancy, with six candidates already interviewed. These include interim coach Giff Smith, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
While Monken, Wilks, and Macdonald are currently part of playoff teams, they were permitted to conduct virtual interviews due to their teams' bye weeks as the top seeds in their respective conferences.
As Harbaugh's meeting with the Chargers approaches, the outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for both him and the future direction of the team. Harbaugh's NFL experience and successful coaching record make him an attractive candidate for many organizations in need of a new leader.
