Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after agreeing to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on a five-year contract.

Harbaugh ends his nine-year stay at Michigan just weeks after winning the national championship with the Wolverines in Houston.

It is his first job in the NFL since he coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.

Harbaugh would have been the highest-paid coach in college football next season but has chosen to succeed Brandon Staley in Los Angeles instead.

Los Angeles was looking for a new coach and general manager after Staley and Tom Telesco were fired on December 15, a day after a 63-21 loss in Las Vegas to the Raiders.

Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after agreeing to become head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers job.

Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after agreeing to become head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers job.

Harbaugh said in a statement he will ‘always be a loyal Wolverine’ but admitted returning to the Chargers – where he played during the 1999 and 2000 seasons – ‘feels like home’.

He said: ‘My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine.

‘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.’

Harbaugh ended his stay in Michigan by winning the National Championship earlier this month

Harbaugh ended his stay in Michigan by winning the National Championship earlier this month

In a statement, Chargers owner and chairman Dean Spanos said: ‘Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward.

‘The son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who himself was coached by names like Schembechler and Ditka, for the past two decades Jim has led hundreds of men to success everywhere he’s been – as their coach.

‘And today, Jim Harbaugh returns to the Chargers, this time as our coach. Who has it better than us?’

Harbaugh made the highly anticipated decision Wednesday to go back to the NFL after a second interview and resume his chase for a Super Bowl that eluded him as a quarterback and coach. 

He will be the first former Chargers player to return to the team as head coach. He played for the Bolts in 1999-2000 before retiring following the 2001 season. 

Harbaugh first met with the Chargers on January 15. He was the eighth of 15 coaching candidates to interview with the Spanos family. He was the only one to get a second interview. 

The Atlanta Falcons also talked to Harbaugh on January 16 and had booked a second interview before he decided to accept the Chargers job.

Harbaugh will have quarterback Justin Herbert to work with in Los Angeles next season

Harbaugh will have quarterback Justin Herbert to work with in Los Angeles next season

Harbaugh was 86-25 at Michigan and restored college football’s winningest program to relevance after it slipped over several seasons under Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez following the retirement of national-championship winning coach Lloyd Carr.

The rival Ohio State Buckeyes had an eight-game winning streak against the Wolverines until Harbaugh helped them snap the streak in 2021, leading to their first of three straight Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances.

Following two straight losses in the semifinals, extending Harbaugh’s winless streak in bowl games to six, Michigan outlasted Alabama at the Rose Bowl and pulled away from Washington to win the national championship with a school-record 15-0 mark.

Michigan tried to keep Harbaugh, offering him a new six-year contract for $11.5million per season.

But Harbaugh’s alma mater could not offer the one thing he desperately wants – a Super Bowl title.

The Chargers have one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, but finished 5-12 this season and lost eight of their last nine, including the last five. 

Chargers fired Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after a disappointing season

Chargers fired Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after a disappointing season

Herbert will be playing for his fourth head coach and possibly fourth offensive coordinator in five seasons.

This is the first time since 2007, when Norv Turner succeeded Marty Schottenheimer, that the Chargers have opted to go with someone with previous head coaching experience.

Turner directed the team to three straight postseason appearances, including the AFC championship game during the 2007 season.

The Chargers have not won a division title since 2009, which was also under Turner.

Intriguingly, the Chargers are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens next season – meaning Jim will take on brother John Harbaugh once again. 

Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos in recent seasons but was unsuccessful.

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Post source: Daily mail

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