Report: The Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh are “straight ahead” in their negotiations.
Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Michigan Wolverines may not pose a significant threat to the Ohio State Buckeyes for very long.
It may be the end of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure in Ann Arbor.
In the middle of their second interview, reports claim that Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers are “striking distance” from a contract.
The veteran Michigan coach, who won the team’s first national championship since 1997, is widely regarded as the front-runner for the job.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, “it feels like we’re now in the zone where something may happen between the Chargers and Jim Harbaugh in the near future.” “From what I understand, they have given him a very attractive cash offer. This brings them to the point where they will talk about hiring the general manager and, of course, the coaching staff, who will work with Harbaugh.
In each of the previous three offseasons, Harbaugh has toyed with the notion of bringing back the professionals. Harbaugh interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings opening after leading Michigan to its first College Football Playoff berth in 2021; however, the position went to Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
After losing to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal, there were whispers last season that Harbugh might consider accepting an offer if the appropriate team approached him. He apparently attracted interest from other organizations and conducted a virtual interview with the Denver Broncos, but in the end, he chose to run it back in Ann Arbor.
Ever since the NCAA started looking into the sign-stealing incident in October, there has been a perception that Harbaugh will quit collegiate football to try to win a Super Bowl. The NCAA has not yet issued a final decision about the case involving Connor Stallions, who is accused of buying tickets to over 35 games at 17 different stadiums throughout the nation that featured Big Ten opponents from Michigan and prospective opponents of the College Football Playoffs.
The school suspended Stallions on October 20 with pay, and he resigned in early November. During the last three regular seasons, including The Game versus Ohio State, Harbaugh was suspended.
Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to three straight conference crowns, the longest winning streak for Michigan since 1995–1997. He has defeated the Buckeyes in each of the previous three seasons.
Harbaugh and the Chargers have a long connection that dates back to their days in San Diego. Between 1999 and 2000, Harbaugh spent two seasons as a quarterback for the Chargers, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards, eighteen touchdowns, and twenty-four interceptions.
After succeeding his father, Alex Spanos, as the Chargers’ owner in 1994, Dean Spanos had a significant role in luring Harbaugh to the team as a player.
Given his links to the state, California also appears to be a top choice for Harbaugh. Before taking the helm at the University of San Diego in 2004, he started his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2002 to 2003. After taking over at Stanford for four seasons (2007–10), Harbaugh was named head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.
