Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL and ready to turn the Los Angeles Chargers into a Super Bowl contender.
Harbaugh was considered among the Chargers’ most desirable candidates in this coaching cycle because of his success at every level. Since his head coaching career began in 2006 at the University of San Diego, Harbaugh has had success at stops at Stanford, Michigan and in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. There’s also Harbaugh’s Chargers connection: he played quarterback for the team for two seasons (1999-2000).
Jim Harbaugh is inheriting a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but for a variety of reasons, the Chargers have fallen short the last few years despite having one of the best rosters in the NFL.
Justin Herbert is viewed as one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL and won Offensive Rookie of the Year in his NFL debut season in 2020. Despite the young signal caller’s success, the Chargers finished the season (7-9) and fired head coach Anthony Lynn at the end of the year.
Brandon Staley took over for Lynn and led the Chargers to a (9-8) finish in his first season and a (10-7) record in 2022, but Los Angeles lost to the Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs. The Chargers took a major step back in 2023, finishing (5-12), opening the door to hire Jim Harbuagh away from Michigan.
As a collegiate coach, Harbaugh has a 144-42 record, winning three Big Ten championships and Michigan’s first national title since 1997.
Jim Harbaugh also spent four seasons (2011-14) as the coach of the 49ers, where he was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in his first season. Harbaugh led the 49ers to the Super Bowl XLVII, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens who were coached by his brother John. Harbaugh left the 49ers after the 2014 season with a 44-19-1 regular record.
Before coming back to the NFL, Harbaugh completely revamped a Michigan Wolverines program that had struggled to compete with the best teams in the country prior to his arrival.
At Michigan, Jim Harbaugh went 144-42, won three Big Ten titles and secured a national title this past season — Michigan’s first since 1997. He joined the Wolverines in 2015.
Even more notable, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to three-straight victories over their rival Ohio State Buckeyes in the last three seasons. In many college football circles, the Michigan vs. Ohio State game carries as much weight as a national championship and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has been heavily criticized for his inability to lead his team past Michigan.
Former Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Takes Blatant Shot At Ryan Day And Ohio State In New Chargers Hype Video
While Harbaugh is now focused on his new gig in the NFL, he clearly hasn’t forgotten about the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry and went as far as to take a blatant shot at the Buckeyes in a recent video the Chargers released on social media.
The Chargers put together a welcome video message for their players as training camp gets away, showcasing the locker room. Jim Harbaugh was the narrator and gave the players credit for making it to the NFL. He said nobody was “born on third base” and had to run through first and second base to get into the league.
sincerely, coach harbaugh pic.twitter.com/IXmJP3k3Fw
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 24, 2024
A direct reference to his famous quote about Day being named the Ohio State head coach after Urban Meyer‘s retirement. Harbaugh may be in the NFL but he is not going to let the rivalry die anytime soon.
“We want to compliment all that have earned the opportunity to get here,” Harbaugh said. “Recognize the journey traveled to now be playing at the highest level of football. None here were born on third base but rather had to work their way to first, then second, then third. Congrats on taking your life circumstances and turning them into success by your talent and your effort.”
In the closing stages, Jim Harbaugh states “We are now all on third base together, poised to bring it home.”
