Chargers reportedly hire Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh as their next coach – Orange County Register

The Chargers finally lured Jim Harbaugh away from the University of Michigan on Wednesday to become their next coach, according to multiple reports. Harbaugh was one of 15 candidates the Chargers interviewed, but the only one they met with twice during a process that began Jan. 9.

There was no official announcement from the team, but the Chargers posted on X (formerly Twitter) an image of white smoke coming from a stove pipe to indicate a hire had been made. Their social media team also posted on its X account: “WHO’S GOT IT BETTER THAN US??”

Harbaugh was the highest-profile candidate to replace Brandon Staley, who was fired along with general manager Tom Telesco on Dec. 15, one day after a humiliating 63-21 loss to the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Harbaugh led Michigan to the national championship earlier this month.

In many ways, Harbaugh’s return to the Chargers seemed like a natural fit and led to much speculation that he was their top candidate even as they cast a wide net in their coaching search. Harbaugh ended his 14-year NFL career with the Chargers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Harbaugh, 60, began his coaching career at the University of San Diego and then moved to Stanford University before he was hired to coach the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. He coached the 49ers for four seasons and led them to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.

But a rift with management paved the way for his departure for Michigan following an 8-8 record in the 2014 season. He departed the 49ers with a 44-19-1 record and then set about turning the Wolverines into national champions. It was a bumpy ride at times, including this season.

Harbaugh’s record at Michigan was 86-25, including 15-0 this season, when he led the Wolverines to their first national title since 1997. Michigan defeated Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the national semifinal game, and then rolled past Washington in the national championship game.

Michigan attempted to retain Harbaugh’s services, offering him a new contract reportedly worth $11.5 million per season over six seasons. The Wolverines had watched Harbaugh flirt with a return to the NFL over the past few seasons only for him to return to his alma mater each time.

This time, the Chargers got their man, the first coach the Spanos family has hired with previous head coaching experience in the NFL since Norv Turner to replace another veteran coach, Marty Shottenheimer for the 2017 season. Staley, Anthony Lynn and Mike McCoy were each first-time head coaches.

Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator when the Chargers hired him in 2021. The Chargers were 9-7 in Staley’s first season, but missed the playoffs when they lost to the Raiders in overtime in the regular-season finale. They were 10-7 in 2022, but blew a 27-0 lead in a wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

There was rampant speculation that Staley would be fired after the debacle in Jacksonville, but he returned for his third season amid hopes that the Chargers’ first playoff appearance since 2018 would be a springboard to a challenge to the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC West supremacy.

It didn’t happen.

The Chargers never clicked, especially defensively, which was supposed to be Staley’s forte despite a college career as a quarterback. Staley and Telesco were fired after the Chargers gave a franchise-record 63 points to the Raiders and assistant Giff Smith served as interim coach for the final three games.

Staley was 24-24 during his Chargers tenure.

Telesco was hired by the Raiders on Tuesday to be their new GM.

At season’s end, pundits and Las Vegas oddsmakers alike made Harbaugh the favorite to replace Staley, citing his past association with the Spanos family and the prospect of working with standout quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers’ job was thought to be the most attractive of all the NFL openings.

Harbaugh also interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons last week.

More to come on this story.