The Los Angeles Chargers are officially hiring former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to be their head coach, sources informed ESPN, the outlet reported.
After a weeklong courtship and a search that saw them interview a league-high 15 candidates, the Chargers got their man, according to ESPN.
Breaking: Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan to accept the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, sources tell ESPN.
The Chargers get their man while the national champions now have a head-coach opening. pic.twitter.com/e937qd03hP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2024
The deal is for a reported five years, according to sources, ESPN reported. While exact figures have not been reported yet, it “promises to be lucrative,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The #Chargers have agreed to terms on Jim Harbaugh’s contract, per source. Promises to be lucrative.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 24, 2024
Harbaugh comes back to the NFL after a nine year stint as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines which he capped off with a national championship. (RELATED: Are Harbaugh Family Values Making Football Great Again?)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 13: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines waves to fans after the Michigan Wolverines football National Championship celebration on January 13, 2024 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Michigan was reportedly pushing hard to retain Harbaugh, with the school offering him the most lucrative coaching contract in college football history, according to the Detroit Free Press.
While his tenure in Ann Arbor was widely viewed as successful — he held a 144-22 record in his nine seasons — it wasn’t without controversy.
Harbaugh served a three game suspension to start the 2023 season for his role in alleged recruitment violations and also missed the last three games before bowl season due to a Big Ten-imposed suspension in the wake of Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing scandal, according to YahooSports.
The fallout from the latter incident reportedly prompted Harbaugh to demand immunity from being fired over the findings of any NCAA investigations.
He last manned the NFL sidelines as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers where he led the team to a Super Bowl in 2013, coming up just short against his brother John Harbaugh’s Ravens.
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field after their win over the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images)
He’ll now helm a Los Angeles Chargers franchise that was in San Diego the last time he coached in the NFL.