According to numerous reports on Tuesday, including those from USA TODAY Sports, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is apparently leaving the program to take over as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
After leading the Wolverines to their best-ever season of 15-0 and their first-ever outright championship since 1948, Harbaugh looks to be ending his time in Ann Arbor. He has apparently made a comeback to the NFL, with which he has toyed during the previous two offseasons.
After the 2021 college football season, Harbaugh and the Vikings held their first meaningful discussions. That was the Broncos following the 2022 season. Harbaugh stuck with his alma mater in both cases. After winning his first national title, Harbaugh will go back to coaching for the professional team he played for in 1999 and 2000.
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Athletic director Warde Manuel intimated that Harbaugh eventually wanted to return to the NFL in a statement that was made public after it was announced that the player had accepted a contract offer.
“A new contract that would make Jim the highest paid college football coach has being discussed. Ultimately, he wanted to investigate and made the decision to go back to coaching in the NFL. Jim has done so much for Michigan Football, our staff, and our student-athletes that we are at a loss for words. As a coach and a championship player, he will always be a vital part of our rich history and will go down as one of the all-time great Wolverines.”
The following explains why Harbaugh is leaving Michigan football to rejoin the Chargers in the NFL:
Why is Michigan football’s Jim Harbaugh stepping down?
There are a lot of reasons, mostly only Harbaugh knows himself, why he left Michigan. It is almost a given that Harbaugh has looked for ways to rejoin the NFL during the previous two offseasons, especially in front of the Wolverines’ 2023 CFP national title campaign.
