Jim Harbaugh is named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on a five-year contract, returning to the NFL just weeks after leading Michigan to the national championship

Jim Harbaugh returns 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 stint at Michigan just weeks after winning the national championship with the Wolverines in Houston.

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

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

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

Harbaugh said in a statement that he will “always be a loyal Wolverine,” but admitted that his return to the Chargers – where he played in the 1999 and 2000 seasons – “feels like home.”

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

“I am remarkably fortunate to have been given the privilege of coaching in 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 the head coach at USD, Stanford, the 49ers and Michigan – each of those opportunities had meaning, each felt personal . .

“When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been more friendly or welcoming. It feels like home to be back here, 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 have to earn our money. Be better today than yesterday. Be better tomorrow than today.

“My priorities are faith, family and football, and we are going to attack them all with an enthusiasm unprecedented in humanity. This organization does the work: invests capital, builds infrastructure, and does everything it can to win. Great efforts equal great results, and we’re just getting started.”

Harbaugh ended his stint at Michigan by winning the National Championship earlier this month

In a statement, Chargers owner and chairman Dean Spanos said, “Jim Harbaugh is the personification of football, and I can’t think of anyone better to lead the Chargers moving forward.

“As the son of a coach, brother of a coach and father of a coach who was himself coached by names like Schembechler and Ditka, Jim has led hundreds of men to success over the past twenty years wherever he has 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 long-awaited decision Wednesday to return to the NFL after a second interview and resume his pursuit of 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 after the 2001 season.

Harbaugh first met with the Chargers on Jan. 15. He was the eighth of fifteen coaching candidates to interview with the Spanos family. He was the only one who got a second interview.

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

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

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

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

After two consecutive semifinal losses, 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 of 15–0.

Michigan attempted to retain Harbaugh, offering him a new six-year contract at $11.5 million per season.

But Harbaugh’s alma mater couldn’t deliver what he so desperately wanted: a Super Bowl title.

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

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 marks the first time since 2007, when Norv Turner succeeded Marty Schottenheimer, that the Chargers have chosen to go with someone with prior head coaching experience.

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

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

Intriguingly, the Chargers will play the Baltimore Ravens next season, which means Jim will once again face brother John Harbaugh.

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