What Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL means for the Chargers،
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to a deal Wednesday with Jim Harbaugh to become the franchise's next head coach. Harbaugh joins the Chargers weeks after leading Michigan to its first national title in 26 years. Harbaugh, 60, returns to the NFL a decade after spending four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), whom he led to a Super Bowl appearance.
Taking a closer look, Chargers reporter Kris Rhim answers four big questions about Harbaugh's hiring, including what comes next. National reporter Dan Graziano talks about what he's hearing about the hire, draft analyst Jordan Reid feeds it to the draft and front office analyst Mike Tannenbaum grades the hire.
Why did the Chargers choose Harbaugh?
Rhyme: In owner Dean Spanos' only public comments since firing coach Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco, he said the Chargers were “clearly not where we expected to be…and we need to a new vision. Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a good idea. risk that I was willing to take.
Spanos making a mid-season layoff — the second in team history — shows the urgency the 73-year-old has to win and his confidence in the Chargers' chances of doing so. Harbaugh was one of the top options in this cycle, with a history of turning middling teams into contenders, and he knows the organization, playing quarterback for the Chargers for two seasons (1999-2000).
What made Harbaugh successful with the 49ers, and will it carry over to Los Angeles?
Rhyme: When Harbaugh joined the 49ers, it was a team that had fallen from the league's elite, missing the playoffs for eight straight seasons. During Harbaugh's first team meeting, he told players he would “burn the grass” to “get rid of the snakes,” former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker told the Bussin' With The podcast Boys.
“We were horrible because we were partying every night and doing whatever we wanted,” Walker said. “Everyone started to change with Jim.”
Changes were quickly evident on the ground. The 49ers went from 6-10 in the season before Harbaugh to 13-3 and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Harbaugh's approach could be effective with a Chargers team that team sources have described as out of touch and lacking accountability for three seasons under Staley.
What is Harbaugh's first priority as head coach?
Rhyme: Determine who he will train. Outside of Justin Herbert and a few other select players, this Chargers roster could look a lot different, as they head into the offseason $27.5 million over the salary cap, according to the management system from the ESPN roster. The biggest decisions Harbaugh will have to make are outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, all of whom have a cap hit of more than $30 million next season. Both Williams and Allen have expressed that they would like to stay with the Chargers, with Allen saying he would consider retiring otherwise.
Allen set the Chargers' single-season record for receptions in just 13 games this season with 108 and passed for 1,243 yards, the second most of his career. Mack had a career-high 17 sacks, second-best in the NFL.
Why did the Chargers hire a new coach before hiring a new general manager?
Rhyme: Harbaugh's tenure with the 49ers was littered with reports of his tensions and fractured relationship with management. Months after the 49ers announced they had parted ways with Harbaugh the night of the 49ers' final game, Harbaugh told the San Jose Mercury News that he was “told I'm not going to be the coach anymore.” and that he “didn’t do it.” I didn't leave the 49ers. I felt like the 49ers hierarchy had left me.
The Chargers may want to involve Harbaugh in the process of selecting a general manager he will get along with to avoid any conflict. The Chargers have already begun interviewing candidates for the general manager position, including several with ties to Harbaugh, such as Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds, who worked for the Raiders when Harbaugh was coach Team QB in 2003.
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Who is the general manager the Chargers could target who could work effectively with Harbaugh?
Graziano: New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown was in Los Angeles on Wednesday for a second interview for the general manager job, and Harbaugh was still there. So it’s possible – even likely – that Harbaugh was involved in the interview. If that's the case, part of the reason would obviously be to get a sense of how the two get along and how their visions for the future of the franchise align. Brown has a good chance of getting the job.
Another candidate to watch is Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds, who has been linked to Harbaugh in speculation for months now. The two worked together early in their NFL careers with the Oakland Raiders. Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Joe Hortiz is another name to keep in mind. He is well regarded around the league, has had several general manager interviews over the past few years and has worked closely with Jim's brother, John Harbaugh, the Ravens head coach.
What are you hearing around the league about hiring?
Graziano: There's obviously a good chance that Harbaugh's son Jay will follow him from Michigan and become the Chargers' special teams coordinator, and there's a good chance that Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will eventually become the Chargers defensive coordinator. The Chargers will have to go through a full interview process for these positions, but these appear to be the two Michigan assistants most likely to jump with the head coach ultimately.
Otherwise, I think most people expect this to be a home run hire for quarterback Justin Herbert, combining Harbaugh's background with quarterbacks and immense talent of Herbert. The Chargers have a lot of tough decisions to make when it comes to salary cap and roster, but they're slotted at quarterback, which makes a lot of other decisions a lot easier.
What can the Chargers do in the first round to help Justin Herbert in Harbaugh's offense?
Reid: Surrounding Herbert with more help on offense is the main focus this offseason, as many of the Chargers' key playmakers are aging and/or have quickly become expensive. That includes Allen and Williams, who both missed significant time due to injuries in 2023. Additionally, the early returns of Quentin Johnston, last year's first-round pick, haven't been great (38 catches, 431 yards, two touchdowns).
Harbaugh and this new regime could look for upgrades there, and I'd keep an eye on Washington's Rome Odunze or LSU's Malik Nabers at No. 5. Los Angeles could also go for Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or even offensive tackle Our Lady. Joe Alt to shore up other parts of the offense for Herbert. And don't be surprised if Harbaugh selects from the Michigan pool; Wolverines receiver Roman Wilson could come off the board late in day two or early in day three, and he would help this Chargers offense.
How would you rate this hire?
Tannenbaum: A-. It's an ideal solution for both sides. Going back to his time as a Raiders assistant in 2002-03, every quarterback Harbaugh has coached has improved, so this should only contribute to Herbert's rise to superstar QB status. The Chargers have huge cap problems, and there could be growing pains; it won't happen overnight. But this is a very exciting hire for an organization that needs to get back on track.
