Chargers

Chargers Officially Hire Jim Harbaugh As Head Coach

January 24, 2024

Update:

The Chargers have officially announced the hire Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach.

Here’s a statement from team owner Dean Spanos and president of football operations John Spanos:

“Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward,” said Owner and Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos. “The son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who himself was coached by names like Schembechler and Ditka, for the past two decades Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he’s been — as their coach. And today, Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach. Who has it better than us?”

“You don’t build a resume like Jim’s by accident, and you don’t do it by yourself,” said President of Football Operations John Spanos. “You need a team. And nobody has built a team more successfully, and repeatedly, in recent history than Jim Harbaugh. His former players swear by him, and his opponents swear at him. Jim is one of one, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back in the Chargers organization as our head coach.”

Harbaugh issued the following statement:

“My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine,” said Harbaugh. “I’m remarkably fortunate to have been afforded the privilege of coaching at places where life’s journey has created strong personal connections for me. From working as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky alongside my father, Jack, and time as an assistant with the Raiders, to being a head coach at USD, Stanford, the 49ers and Michigan — each of those opportunities carried significance, each felt personal. When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been more gracious or more welcoming. Being back here feels like home, and it’s great to see that those things haven’t changed.

“The only job you start at the top is digging a hole, so we know we’ve got to earn our way. Be better today than yesterday. Be better tomorrow than today. My priorities are faith, family and football, and we are going to attack each with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. This organization is putting in the work — investing capital, building infrastructure and doing everything within its power to win. Great effort equals great results, and we’re just getting started.”

The Los Angeles Chargers are hiring Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach, according to Adam Schefter.

The full list of candidates who interview for the Chargers’ head coaching position includes:

Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh (Interview)
49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks (Interview)
Lions OC Ben Johnson (Interview)
Lions DC Aaron Glenn (Interview)
Ravens OC Todd Monken (Interview)
Ravens DC Mike Macdonald (Interview)
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn (Interview)
Rams DC Raheem Morris (Interview)
Raiders DC Patrick Graham (Interview)
Chargers OC Kellen Moore (Interview)
Chargers interim HC Giff Smith (Interview)
Bengals OC Brian Callahan (Interview)
Former Bills DC Leslie Frazier (Interview)
Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel (Interview)
Former Stanford HC David Shaw (Interview)

Aaron Wilson reports that Harbaugh could look to hire Greg Roman as offensive coordinator, Jesse Minter as defensive coordinator and his son, Jay Harbaugh, as special teams coordinator.

Harbaugh, 60, was a first-round pick out of Michigan by the Bears in 1987. He played 14 years in the league before becoming a coach, first with the Raiders. He was hired by San Diego as head coach in 2004 and took the same position with Stanford in 2007.

The 49ers hired Harbaugh as their head coach in 2007. He was fired in 2014 and hired as head coach at Michigan.

During his four years with the 49ers, he led them to a record of 44-19-1 (69.5 percent), which included three playoff appearances and an NFC Championship.

At Michigan, Harbaugh’s teams have produced a record of 85-25 (77.7 percent). That includes a 2-6 record in bowl games and three trips to the College Football Playoff.