LOS ANGELES — Jim Harbaugh is leaving the national champion Michigan Wolverines to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Wednesday.
Harbaugh’s deal is for five years, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“The only job you start at the top is digging a hole, so we know we’ve got to earn our way,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “… 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 was considered among the most desirable candidates in this coaching cycle because of his success in both the college and professional levels. Since his head-coaching career began in 2006 at the University of San Diego, Harbaugh has had success at Stanford and Michigan, and in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.
There’s also Harbaugh’s Chargers connection: He played quarterback for the team for two seasons (1999-2000).
“Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward,” owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. “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?”
Spanos cited the rallying cry that Harbaugh leaned on during this season at Michigan, when he would yell, “Who’s got it better than us?” to players. It’s a phrase he got from his father, Jack, as a reminder to be grateful.
