Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL, this time as the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach.
Sports news Updates : In a post on Wednesday, the Chargers wrote, “Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.”
The statement was made following a record-breaking season in which Harbaugh guided the University of Michigan to its first national title since 1997 and concluded his nine-year tenure as head coach of the Wolverines.
“I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward than Jim Harbaugh—he is football personified,” said Chargers owner and chairman Dean Spanos in a statement.
The statement said, “For the past 20 years Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he’s been — as their coach.” Jim is a coach’s son, brother, and father who was personally coached by Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler and Mike Ditka. And Jim Harbaugh is back with the Chargers today, this time in the role of coach. Who is in a better place than us?
Drama marred Harbaugh’s final season at Michigan; two different investigations resulted in his suspension for the entirety of the regular season.
After he was discovered to be involved in a sign-stealing controversy, the Big 10 conference punished him for the final three games of the regular season. After agreeing to the university’s decision to suspend him due to allegations that he misled NCAA inspectors investigating potential recruiting violations during the coronavirus outbreak, he had already missed the first three games.
The NFL noted in a news release that Harbaugh’s new job validates circulating speculations that he would return to the NFL to showcase his skills after interviewing with the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos, respectively, over the previous two off-seasons.
Following two interviews with the Chargers, Harbaugh was officially named the new head coach, according to an NFL news release.
The Chargers dismissed their previous general manager and head coach following their crushing 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in their previous game last month.
According to The Associated Press, Harbaugh met with the club for the first time on January 15, one month after meeting with Spanos and his family as one of 15 candidates to try out for the position.
As reported by the AP, he was the only one to receive a second interview.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh was playing the field. He lined up another interview with the Atlanta Falcons on January 16 before opting to sign with the Chargers, the AP reported.
According to the AP, Harbaugh is the first former Charger to rejoin the franchise as head coach in his current capacity. Before retiring in 2001, he played for them as a quarterback for the final two seasons in 1999 and 2000.
He also played for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens throughout his extensive NFL career. Prior to the 2001 season, he was moved to the Carolina Panthers, but he never made a game there.
Following his career as a quarterback, Harbaugh transitioned into coaching. His most noteworthy coaching position was held from 2011 to 2014 with the San Francisco 49ers.
After losing against his brother, head coach John Harbaugh, and the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh made his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach with the 49ers.
When Harbaugh began his football career at the University of Michigan, his on-field abilities were initially noticed. In an attempt to rebuild the most successful college football program ever, he rejoined the Wolverines as head coach for the 2015 campaign.
“My affection for Michigan endures since I played there and returned to coach there. I will always be a devoted Michigan fan, Harbaugh declared in a statement. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to coach in settings where my life’s journey has forged meaningful personal bonds with me.”
After finishing with a 5–12 record, the Chargers are hoping that, with quarterback Justin Herbert at his side, Harbaugh can replicate his success for the Wolverines.
“The Spanos family was the most kind and welcoming to me during my time as a Chargers player. It’s wonderful to see that those things haven’t changed, and coming back here feels like home,” Harbaugh remarked.
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