Chargers hire Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach

A return to the NFL has long been speculated for Harbaugh after he spent the past two offseasons interviewing with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, respectively.

Harbaugh has seen success at every stop in his coaching career, including the four seasons he spent with the San Francisco 49ers, whom he led to wins in nearly 70% of his games (44-19-1) from 2011-2014. During that run last decade under Harbaugh, the Niners went to three consecutive NFC Championship Games and advanced to Super Bowl XLVII, where they lost to the Ravens and Harbaugh's brother, John. Coincidentally, the Ravens are on the Chargers 2024 schedule, with L.A. set to host the brotherly matchup.

Prior to his time on the sideline, Harbaugh was a quarterback at Michigan who was taken in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. His NFL career ran from 1987 through 2001, concluding with three years on the Chargers roster and 17 starts for the club.

"My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I'll always be a loyal Wolverine," Harbaugh said in a statement. "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."