“Harbaugh to Chargers Has Been Done”: Jim’s Future Set In Stone as Michigan’s $69 Million Offer Reported to Have Failed

After Michigan’s impressive 34-13 win over Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game, who would’ve thought the biggest news surrounding the Wolverines would be Jim Harbaugh potentially leaving? As it turns out, “he had decided on [coming back to the NFL], more than likely, a long time ago.” In his nine-year tenure with the Wolverines—where he helped them become the formidable unit they are—a team like the LA Chargers desperately needs Harbaugh. And although Harbaugh remains silent about his future, NFL analysts “fully expect him to leave” the NCAA horizon. 

This comes after the Wolverines HC interviewed for head coaching positions with the LA Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons. For Harbaugh, he’s at a point in his college coaching career where he’s achieved everything. He has nothing else to prove. He came to Michigan to build a formidable team, and that’s precisely what he did. Discussing this with Colin Cowherd, former NFL scout John Middlekauff revealed, “I fully expect him to leave. Everyone I’ve been talking to thinks this Harbaugh-Chargers deal, as long as he’s cool with it, it’s been a done deal for a while.” But why wouldn’t he be “cool” with it?

That comes down to the fact that Dean Spanos’ son, John, runs the Chargers’ football operations. Having had run-ins with Michigan’s AD and the owner of the San Francisco 49ers during those respective stints, would he want to go through that again? Despite this, Colin Cowherd claimed, “I was told by somebody who I trust [that] the Chargers are going to pay for Harbaugh.” The Chargers are reportedly considering a substantial increase in their offer, rumored to be in the range of $15 million to $18 million annually over five years, totaling $90 million. 

This comes in light of Michigan’s reported $69 million offer to Jim Harbaugh—$11.5 million a year for 6 years. This would’ve made him the highest-paid coach in college football. But if Cowherd and Middlekauff’s conversation is anything to go by, it didn’t work, even with the immunity against termination clause, considering the multiple ongoing NCAA investigations. 

The Chargers increasing their offer is a significant development given Harbaugh’s NFL history and his past association with the Chargers and the Spanos family. While speculations about his next move brew, the Chargers gear up for their second round of interviews. 

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Round 2 of the Chargers interviewing Jim Harbaugh 

Jim Harbaugh is set for a second interview with the Los Angeles Chargers, intensifying speculations about him becoming the team’s next head coach. The Chargers, under owner Dean Spanos, have been linked to Harbaugh since the dismissal of former coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on December 15. 

Having already interviewed the likes of Cincinnati Bengals OC Brian Callahan, former Buffalo Bills DC Leslie Frazier, and the Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Jim Harbaugh is still the front-runner. Why wouldn’t he be, considering his resume with Michigan as well as the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014? 

With the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh led them to three straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl, never having a losing season. Needless to say, the Chargers would likely be in good hands if Harbaugh does become their HC. He’s scheduled for a second interview with the Atlanta Falcons, who first interviewed him on January 16.

Read More: Jim Harbaugh’s $4,000,000 Tantrums Exhaust Michigan’s Patience While Chargers Sniff to Pounce With Potential $90M Contract