Jim Harbaugh spent nine seasons coaching at his alma mater Michigan and led the Wolverines to a national championship in his final season there. Now, he is saying goodbye as he makes his return to the NFL.
The Chargers announced on Wednesday that they had hired Harbaugh to culminate their coaching search. Harbaugh will coach on a five-year deal as he returns to the NFL for the first time since the 49ers fired him at the end of the 2014 NFL season.
On Thursday, Harbaugh said goodbye to Michigan in a heartfelt statement as he prepared to resume his NFL journey.
“My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact,” Harbaugh wrote. “I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine.”
BENDER: What to expect in Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL
Harbaugh went on to note that he has been able to create “strong personal connections” at each of his coaching stops.
That was one of the reasons Harbaugh was drawn to the Chargers’ job. He already has a strong relationship with the Spanos family, as he outlined in his statement.
“When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been more gracious or more welcoming,” Harbaugh said. “Being back here feels like home, and it’s great to see that those things haven’t changed.”
Harbaugh joining the Chargers was not much of a surprise. Beyond his connection to the franchise, Los Angeles was viewed as one of the most attractive job openings in the NFL. It has a well-built offense and a franchise-caliber quarterback in Justin Herbert. The Bolts just need to perform better on defense to become a potential contender in the AFC.
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