On Wednesday afternoon, some big news was announced. Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan after nine seasons, for a second stint in the NFL, and with a Denver Broncos AFC West rival. To be specific, Harbaugh was hired to be the next Los Angeles Chargers head coach.
Chargers to hire Jim Harbaugh as new head coach. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/yx1d3P6x7v
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2024
Harbaugh joins the NFL for the second time in his career, the second California team. Before Michigan, he was the 49ers head coach and now joins the Los Angeles Chargers. To be specific, the Chargers signed Harbaugh to a five-year deal.
During his playing career, Jim Harbaugh was a quarterback and played two seasons for the San Diego Chargers, actually located in Los Angeles. Now he will be the head coach of his former team. A full cycle that lands a top-tier candidate in the AFC West.
Full circle moment for Jim Harbaugh 💙 pic.twitter.com/sL58iUne30
— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2024
Jim has been a top-tier candidate in the past two head coach cycles, before signing with the Chargers in the third-consecutive cycle he has been a part of in the past years. In 2022, before hiring Kevin O'Connell, the Minnesota Vikings were close to hiring Harbaugh. In 2023, before trading for Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos had Harbaugh as a top-tier candidate, and were in serious talks.
A year ago, the Broncos REALLY pursued Jim Harbaugh to be their head coach.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 24, 2024
He stayed at Michigan and the Broncos traded for and hired Sean Payton.
This year, Harbaugh becomes the Chargers’ head coach and will play the Broncos twice a season moving forward.
When Harbaugh told Denver that he was coming back to Michigan, the Broncos traded for Sean Payton. Harbaugh spent one more year in college football with the Wolverines and won the National Championship. Multiple people believe that Harbaugh was Denver's number-one choice a bit over a year ago. Instead, the Broncos ended up trading with the New Orleans Saints for Sean Payton's rights. It is possible that the Denver Broncos wanted Jim over Sean back in 2023 because of the lack of draft capital they had ... the Broncos finished with an 8-9 win-loss record in their first season with Sean Payton.
Now Denver will have to face the Jim Harbaugh Chargers at least twice per season.