A week after leading the University of Michigan to a national championship, Jim Harbaugh has conducted interviews with the Los Angeles Chargers on their head coaching position.
The Chargers did not specify the time of Harbaugh’s interview when they made the announcement on Monday. Although he is the ninth coaching candidate the Chargers have interviewed, his resume is particularly impressive.
The 60-year-old Harbaugh has coached his alma mater for nine seasons, compiling an 89-25 record. Prior to that, he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl during the 2012 season and was 44-19-1 in his four seasons as coach of San Francisco. He also had winning records at the University of San Diego and Stanford.
Harbaugh was previously close to both the Chargers and the team’s owners, the Spanos family. From 1999 to 2000, he was the quarterback for the Bolts.
The Chargers are in need of a new general manager and coach following the dismissal of Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley on December 15, the day following a defeat of 63-21 in Las Vegas.
According to a source close to Harbaugh’s plans, he is considering staying at Michigan in addition to looking into his NFL alternatives, the AP reported over the weekend. Due to the delicate nature of the topics being discussed, the speaker agreed to remain anonymous.
Michigan has extended an offer to Harbaugh that would put him in the top tier of college football coaches in terms of compensation.
Last Monday, the Wolverines defeated Washington 34–13 in the College Football Playoff championship game. On Saturday, Michigan hosted a parade to celebrate.
Since his hiring in 2015, Harbaugh has remained at his alma mater longer than some had anticipated.
Don Yee was recently signed by Harbaugh as his agent in anticipation of a potential return to the NFL. In addition to representing seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, a well-known Michigan quarterback, Yee is also an agency located in Pasadena. Sean Payton, the coach of the Denver Broncos, was the most sought-after coaching free agent of the previous season.
Harbaugh has made no secret of his desire to play in the NFL again. Following the 2012 season, the Baltimore Ravens, led by his brother John, defeated Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Two years ago, Harbaugh had an interview with the Minnesota Vikings; the previous year, he held talks with the Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
In addition to the Chargers, there are openings in Atlanta, Carolina, Las Vegas, Seattle, Tennessee, and Washington.
Along with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, and former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the Chargers have also conducted interviews with interim coach Giff Smith and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
As the top seeds in their respective conferences this week, Monken, Wilks, and Macdonald’s teams had byes, therefore they were permitted to conduct virtual interviews under the league’s updated policy, despite the fact that they are players on playoff teams.
Interim general manager JoJo Wooden, assistant general manager Brandon Brown of the New York Giants, Joe Hortiz of Baltimore’s director of player personnel, and Ian Cunningham of the Chicago Bears are the four candidates the Chargers have interviewed for the position of general manager.
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