Former Michigan special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh will reunite with ex-Wolverines defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, this time with the Seattle Seahawks, rather than joining his father, Jim Harbaugh, with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jay Harbaugh had overseen one of college football’s most esteemed special teams units at Michigan since 2017 under his father’s tenure. His decision to join the Seahawks comes as a surprise to many, as it was widely anticipated that he would follow his father to the Chargers. As he bids farewell to Michigan, Harbaugh took to Instagram to share two very powerful words. 

Jay Harbaugh bids farewell to Michigan 

This expectation was reinforced by the recent promotion of former special teams analyst J.B. Brown to Jay’s former role under Michigan’s new head coach, Sherrone Moore, a move that received Jay’s public endorsement. However, Jay’s choice to join the Seahawks alongside Macdonald, who was recently appointed as Seattle’s head coach, appears to be a mutually beneficial decision for both father and son. As Harbaugh prepares to move on from Michigan, he takes to Instagram to share his goodbyes with a farewell post that depicts him on the field bearing a caption, “Thank you 💙Forever, #goblue.”

Macdonald’s close ties to the Harbaugh family are evident; having served as a longstanding assistant under John Harbaugh (Jay’s uncle) with the Baltimore Ravens. His stint as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021, under Jim Harbaugh’s leadership, notably contributed to a pivotal win against archrival Ohio State and secured a Big Ten title – a milestone achievement for Jim during his tenure at Michigan. After his tenure with Michigan, Macdonald returned to the Ravens as defensive coordinator, overseeing one of the NFL’s top-ranked defenses in the past season, before his recent appointment with the Seahawks.

Warde Manuel reveals he was prepared for coaching departures

Following his return from Los Angeles, where he accepted the head coaching position with the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh emphasized the importance of fostering a cohesive relationship between Michigan and his new NFL team. The addition of Don Martindale to Michigan’s defensive staff further solidifies the connection between the Wolverines and the Chargers, with several former Michigan staff members now part of both organizations, including Jesse Minter, Mike Elston, Ben Herbert, and now Maurice Linguist. In a midweek announcement, Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, disclosed his deliberate decision to appoint Sherrone Moore to uphold program continuity. He emphasized his foresight and readiness for the potential mass departure that ultimately transpired, showing an understanding of the staff members’ choices and their career aspirations. Manuel expressed unwavering confidence in Moore’s capacity to reconstruct the staff and sustain the program’s forward momentum. 

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Regarding Moore’s contract, significantly less than Harbaugh’s leaked offer by $7 million, Manuel clarified that these savings wouldn’t automatically translate into increased spending on assistant coaches. He explained that the assistant coach budget had already been expanded prior to Harbaugh’s departure, with those funds earmarked for Moore’s discretion in assembling his team. Manuel reiterated the university’s commitment to investing in talent to fortify the football program’s success in Ann Arbor.

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