Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after agreeing to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on a five-year contract.
Harbaugh ends his nine-year stay at Michigan just weeks after winning the national championship with the Wolverines in Houston.
It's his first NFL job since coaching the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.
Harbaugh would have been the highest-paid coach in college football next season, but instead chose to succeed Brandon Staley in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles was looking for a new coach and general manager after firing Staley and Tom Telesco on Dec. 15, a day after a 63-21 loss in Las Vegas to the Raiders.
Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after agreeing to become head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Harbaugh said in a statement that he will “always remain a loyal Wolverine” but admitted that returning to the Chargers – where he played during the 1999 and 2000 seasons – “feels like home.”
He said: “My love for Michigan, playing there and returning to coach there leaves a lasting impression. “I will always be a loyal Wolverine.
“I am very fortunate to have had the privilege of coaching in places where the journey of a lifetime has created strong personal bonds for me.”
“From my work as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky alongside my father Jack and my time as an assistant with the Raiders to my stints as a head coach at USD, Stanford, the 49ers and Michigan, each of these opportunities was meaningful and felt personal .” .
“When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been friendlier and more welcoming. Being back here feels like home and it's great to see that nothing has changed.
“The only job you start at the top is digging a hole, so we know we have to earn a living.” Be better today than you were yesterday. Be better tomorrow than you were today.
“My priorities are faith, family and football, and we will attack each with an enthusiasm unknown to humanity.” This organization does a lot of work – investing capital, building infrastructure and doing everything in its power to transform to win. “Big effort means great results, and we’re just getting started.”
Harbaugh ended his stay at Michigan by winning the national championship earlier this month
In a statement, Chargers owner and chairman Dean Spanos said, “Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can't think of anyone better to lead the Chargers forward.”
“As the son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who was himself coached by names like Schembechler and Ditka, Jim has led hundreds of men everywhere to success over the past two decades – as their coach.”
“And today Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach.” Who has it better than us?
Harbaugh made the highly anticipated decision Wednesday to return to the NFL after a second interview and continue his pursuit of a Super Bowl that had eluded him as a quarterback and coach.
He will be the first former Chargers player to return to the team as head coach. He played for the Bolts from 1999 to 2000 before retiring after the 2001 season.
Harbaugh first met with the Chargers on January 15th. He was the eighth of 15 coaching candidates to interview with the Spanos family. He was the only one who got a second interview.
The Atlanta Falcons also spoke with Harbaugh on Jan. 16 and had scheduled a second interview before he decided to accept the Chargers job.
Harbaugh will work with quarterback Justin Herbert next season in Los Angeles
Harbaugh had an 86-25 record at Michigan, bringing college football's winningest program back to relevance after several seasons of stagnation under Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez following the resignation of national championship-winning coach Lloyd Carr was advised.
The rival Ohio State Buckeyes had an eight-game winning streak against the Wolverines until Harbaugh helped them end that streak in 2021, leading to their first of three straight Big Ten titles and their appearance in the College Football Playoff.
After two straight losses in the semifinals that extended Harbaugh's winning streak in bowl games to six, Michigan edged Alabama in the Rose Bowl and pulled away from Washington to win the national championship with a school record of 15-0.
Michigan tried to keep Harbaugh, offering him a new six-year contract for $11.5 million per season.
But Harbaugh's alma mater couldn't provide what he so desperately wants – a Super Bowl title.
The Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert, but finished 5-12 this season and lost eight of their last nine, including their last five.
The Chargers fired Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after a disappointing season
Herbert will be playing for his fourth head coach and possibly fourth offensive coordinator in five seasons.
This is the first time since 2007, when Norv Turner succeeded Marty Schottenheimer, that the Chargers have chosen someone with previous head coaching experience.
Turner led the team to three consecutive postseason appearances, including the AFC Championship Game in the 2007 season.
The Chargers haven't won a division title since 2009, also under Turner.
Interestingly, the Chargers are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens next season – meaning Jim will once again face his brother John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos in recent seasons but was unsuccessful.