Jim Harbaugh interviews for Los Angeles Chargers head coach job as NFL tour begins
Jim Harbaugh’s NFL tour is underway.
A week after leading Michigan to a national championship, Harbaugh on Monday interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their vacant head coach job, the team said.
Harbaugh is among the biggest names potentially available for an NFL gig after bringing Michigan, his alma mater, its first football championship since 1997. The 60-year-old Harbaugh owns an 89-25 record in nine seasons as Michigan’s head coach and has won three consecutive Big 10 Conference titles.
A change could be coming for Harbaugh, however, after he was suspended a total of six games in 2023 as the result of recruiting violations and alleged sign stealing. Additional penalties could come should Harbaugh remain at the NCAA level.
Michigan recently offered Harbaugh, who is under contract through 2026, a 10-year, $125 million extension, according to NFL Media.
After winning his first NCAA national championship, Harbaugh may still feel a sense of unfinished business in the NFL, where he’s yet to win a Super Bowl. Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season but lost to brother John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens.
Harbaugh went 44-19-1 with the 49ers from 2011-14. He spent his final two seasons as an NFL quarterback with the Chargers from 1999-2000 and went 6-11 as a starter.
The Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley 14 games into this season and finished the year with a 5-12 record. Their head coaching job is considered among the most desirable of the seven current NFL openings due to a roster featuring franchise cornerstones such as quarterback Justin Herbert and pass rusher Joey Bosa.
Los Angeles is set to pick fifth in April’s NFL draft. The Commanders, who are set to pick second, are also searching for their next head coach, as are the Titans, Falcons, Seahawks, Raiders and Panthers. Additional jobs could open up as the NFL playoffs shake out.
Other big names on the coaching market include Bill Belichick, who parted ways with the Patriots last week after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl trophies, and Pete Carroll, whom the Seahawks moved to an advisory role after the season. The Patriots are replacing Belichick internally with Jerod Mayo.
Over the past few days, the Chargers also conducted interviews for their head coaching gig with interim coach Giff Smith; offensive coordinator Kellen Moore; Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham; Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken; Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald; 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks; and former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.
