Jim Harbaugh, Chargers expected to meet Monday: Sources

By Dianna Russini, Autin Meek and Daniel Popper

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is expected to have an in-person meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, team sources said.

Questions have swirled over whether Harbaugh will stay at Michigan — where he just led the Wolverines to a national championship a week ago — or leave college and return to the NFL.

Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 and led the team to the 2012 Super Bowl. The 49ers lost Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens, who are coached by his brother John.

During Harbaugh’s time in San Francisco, the Niners made three NFC conference title game appearances and compiled a 44-19-1 record.

Michigan went 15-0 under Harbaugh in 2023, beating Ohio State for the third straight year and winning the Big Ten title. The Wolverines went on to beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl before toppling Washington 34-13 in the national championship.

In nine years, Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to an 89-25 record and eight bowl game appearances.

At Saturday’s championship parade, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel led a standing ovation for Harbaugh and told the crowd in Ann Arbor, “I am working on getting this man a new contract. I promise you.”

Harbaugh’s is under contract with Michigan through 2026. He’s received plenty of interest from the NFL over the years and talked with the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos in the past two hiring cycles.

On Sunday, the Chargers said they interviewed Leslie Frazier for their vacant coaching position. Frazier did not coach during the 2023 season but most recently served as the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2022.

The Chargers are looking for a coach after firing Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco in Week 15, one day after a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders dropped the team to 5-9. Los Angeles finished the season at 5-12.

Why Chargers are interested in Harbaugh

Harbaugh makes sense for the Chargers on many levels. As quarterback Justin Herbert enters the prime of his career, the Chargers need a coach who can maximize that window and provide system stability. They need a proven winner. They need accountability in the locker room. Harbaugh checks those boxes.

The Chargers have not hired a coach with previous NFL experience since Norv Turner. And while they are not married to a candidate with experience, that direction feels like the right one for the players and the organization at large. Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999-2000, so he has familiarity with ownership. He also got his head coaching start at the University of San Diego.

For three straight coaching hires, the Chargers have gone with up-and-coming assistants in Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley. Harbaugh would represent the big swing the organization needs to get over the hump, build a sustainable winner and start making a permanent mark in the Los Angeles sports market. — Daniel Popper, Chargers beat writer

Other Chargers coaching candidates

Regarding timing, the Chargers still must conduct one more in-person interview with a minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule. They interviewed Frazier in person Sunday and two other minority candidates in 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, but both of those were virtual. Candidates employed by NFL teams cannot interview in person until after the divisional round of the playoffs, according to the new league hiring guidelines.

If the Chargers do decide on Harbaugh, the next big question becomes: Who will they hire as GM? Their general manager search has been more focused than the coaching search. All three interviews they have announced — Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz and Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham — have ties to Harbaugh. Hortiz, of course, works with Harbaugh’s brother, John, who has coached the Ravens for 16 seasons. Cunningham worked as a scout for the Ravens for nine seasons before moving on to the Eagles and then the Bears. — Popper

What’s happening with Michigan extension talks?

Michigan officials expect Harbaugh to be deliberate in weighing his options before he decides where he’ll be coaching next season. He interviewed with the Vikings in 2022 and had conversations with the Broncos last year, so no one at Michigan will be caught off guard by his decision to meet with the Chargers. Michigan officials don’t view Harbaugh’s departure as a foregone conclusion but recognize the pull of the NFL and won’t begrudge him the opportunity to pursue a Super Bowl if that’s what he decides to do.

Michigan has had conversations with Harbaugh’s agent, Don Yee, about a new contract that would make Harbaugh one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, but ultimately it’s up to Harbaugh to decide where he wants to be. That’s a decision Harbaugh will make after meeting with the Chargers and exploring his NFL options. — Austin Meek, Michigan staff writer

Required reading

(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)