Jim Harbaugh is one of a kind. Not just in his career trajectory, but also in the way he thinks about the grid, how he presents himself in the media and how he acts when he’s not involved with whatever team he’s coaching.
Each jump in his coaching career since retiring from the NFL has been to a different level of football, with the exception of one in 2006.
His most recent jump was from national championship-winning coach at Michigan, where athletic director Warde tried to lock Manuel Harbaugh away for life in Ann Arbor, to the Los Angeles Chargers, who were looking for a spark, so to speak, to bounce back to come. in the NFL playoff battle.
Not to mention the Wolverines’ move to the AFC West was designed to prevent the NCAA from bringing down the hammer on multiple scandals.
And in his first season in Hollywood, Harbaugh has turned the 11-6 Chargers into contenders again, heading into their Wild Card weekend showdown with the Texans on Saturday.
Harbaugh does things his way and delivers consistently like few others can. Now that he has reached the mountaintop at the college level, there is a lot of weight behind him to eventually find the same success in the NFL.
Jim Harbaugh is a one-of-a-kind coach, making leaps from the college ranks to the NFL
Harbaugh is tasked with bringing a championship to the Chargers for the first time since 1963
Harbaugh’s unique methods of recruiting and player development
Wherever he ran a program, Harbaugh used every tool at his disposal to bring in the best players and get the best out of them under his leadership.
He went to class with A high school recruitwas drenched in water during a concert with hip-hop group Migosthought his team should look up to SpongeBob SquarePantsand even received training during one recruiting visit in Florida.
Harbaugh has also tried to inspire his teams with his own birth, which he apparently remembers.
“I think when he talked about remembering the day he was born,” Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert said this month. “It was probably the first day he told us the whole story and how he remembered looking out the window. And I think it was a cold, snowy day.
“And I really hope he remembers that, that would be pretty cool.”
Whatever Harbaugh’s tactics are, they’re working.
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman (left) lived in the same RV park as Harbaugh
Harbaugh showed off his DVD collection from his RV, including the movie ‘Joe Dirt’
A house on wheels is still a home!
After accepting the Chargers job, where he will make $16 million starting in his first year in Los Angeles, Harbaugh decided to live in an RV for his first two months as a California resident.
It was parked in Huntington Beach near his offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, who also lived in an RV after being hired by Harbaugh.
Rather than find other temporary housing until he moved into a house with his wife Sarah, he decided lived in the campertouting it as a “good place to think” and praising the “solitude” it offers.
Harbaugh also revealed that the camper had made previous trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland and Kansas City, Missouri.
But the trip to Southern California — which was actually made by his brother-in-law, John Feuerborn, he said — is by far the furthest on the truck.
Harbaugh will make $16 million this season after signing a five-year contract with the Chargers
The Chargers’ fanbase has included Harbaugh as one of their own, hoping for great success
Harbaugh’s unique character saw him and his father as audience members on ‘Judge Judy’
Unique of its kind
Although he is no longer at Michigan, Harbaugh made good on the promise he made to his Wolverines squad to get the school’s letter M logo next to the team’s record. tattooed on him if they won a national championship.
Harbaugh also introduced previous players they are not allowed to eat chicken. Why? “Because it’s a nervous bird.”
The 61-year-old also believes that eating chicken, instead of red meat, can cause illness. His position changed over time, as he admitted in November 2023.
‘I know there was a time when I said chicken was a nervous bird and I don’t eat chicken, I only eat meat. I was completely wrong. I stand corrected. These chickens require low maintenance and high production,” says Harbaugh.
Eagle-eyed football fans also spotted Harbaugh, next to his father, Jack Harbaugh, in the audience on “Judge Judy.”
Harbaugh’s jokes haven’t stopped now that he’s back in the NFL. Take this moment from his opening press conference with the team in February.
“We’re cleaning up the weight room right now. Getting everything ready. We had a great day. I mean, talk about fulfillment. I’ll go to Home Depot and get the Shop-Vac. I feel like I’m back in (San Diego). Let’s get this right, let’s get this right.’
And getting the Chargers right is exactly what Harbaugh has done, as his team has the best record under a first-year head coach for the franchise since Norv Turner in 2007.
QB Justin Herbert and Harbaugh have built a special relationship all season
Now Harbaugh enters his first postseason as Chargers head coach with high expectations
The way forward
A four-game win streak from Weeks 8 through 11 really solidified Harbaugh’s knowledge of his team and set him up for success in the future.
Of course, Justin Herbert, who himself has one of the best quarterbacks in the league as a former signal caller, has helped Harbaugh exceed expectations thus far.
Now comes his real test, one he never passed as head coach of the 49ers, losing his only previous Super Bowl appearance at the helm to older brother John Harbaugh.
The road looks tough, with a likely showdown with the Chiefs looming before a trip to the Super Bowl could happen.
Harbaugh can invoke the clichéd quote about how hard it is to beat the same team three times in one season, as the Chiefs have already beaten the Chargers by nine points in Weeks 4 and 14.
If there’s a team that can disrupt the emerging Chiefs dynasty, the Chargers are a shady pick to do it, with the California hopefuls never counting them out thanks to their talented quarterback and tireless head coach.