Sources: Jim Harbaugh agrees to become Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers

Modified photo from MGoBlog via Flickr

According to CFB-Dawgs sources, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers to be their next head coach. The terms of the agreement are currently unknown.

College Football Dawgs reported about the ongoing contract discussions with the Chargers as early as December 31st. We reported that Harbaugh was in contact with the Chargers during the Rose Bowl week when Michigan played Alabama in the Rose Bowl game.

It was reported that Harbaugh had authorized a real estate representative to look into properties in the South LA region near the Chargers' new facility. College Football Dawgs also nailed a report three days before Yahoo reporter Dan Wetzel, who took credit for breaking the news, that Harbaugh was having issues with his contract at Michigan, in particular surrounding the inclusion or omission of an immunity clause that would keep him from being fired.

Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to the program’s eleventh national championship, defeating the Washington Huskies 34-13. Harbaugh leaves Michigan with an 86-25 record, fourth place in wins among Wolverine head coaches.

Michigan was said to have initially attempted to keep Harbaugh as the Wolverines' head coach, but there was a breakdown in the negotiations. One source familiar with the situation told College Football Dawgs that the breakdown was over a “clause” that would prevent Harbaugh from being fired with cause if the NCAA hands down sanctions over the 2023 sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stalions.

Harbaugh has a history of success everywhere he has coached, both in college and in the NFL. He started his head coaching career at the University of San Diego, going 29-6 from 2004-2006. Harbaugh was then hired on at Stanford where he went 29-21 from 2007-2010. While that record does not scream success, the Cardinals were 20-6 in Harbaugh’s last two seasons.

That record was good enough for a jump to the NFL, where Harbaugh was hired by the San Francisco 49ers. In his four seasons as head coach, the 49ers went 44-19-1 with a trip to the Super Bowl in 2012.

The chance to coach at his alma mater, Michigan, lured Harbaugh back to the college ranks in 2015. He has been the coach of the Wolverines for the last nine seasons, getting double-digit wins in six of those nine seasons. Harbaugh’s bowl record of 3-6 at Michigan and 4-7 overall is not good, but he put to bed any talk of being unable to win the big game by defeating both Alabama and Washington in this season’s College Football Playoffs.

College Football Dawgs first reported Harbaugh’s plans to leave Michigan on January 13, 2024.