Jim Harbaugh is heading back to the NFL.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Harbaugh have agreed to terms on a contract that will make him their next head coach, the team announced Wednesday.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Harbaugh will sign a five-year contract with the Chargers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, citing sources.
Harbaugh, 60, helped lead his alma mater Michigan to a national championship earlier this month, the first undisputed title for the program since 1948. Over nine seasons in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh compiled an 86-25 record with three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and wins over Ohio State to close his tenure.
Harbaugh's final year with Michigan was riddled with controversy, despite winning the national title. He served a three-game suspension at the start of the season for violating recruiting regulations. Later, the Big Ten Conference handed him another three-game suspension as part of Michigan's sign-stealing scandal.
San Francisco 49ers
Prior to his time at Michigan, Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons from 2011 to 2014. He led the franchise to three straight NFC title game appearances (and a Super Bowl loss to his brother John and the Baltimore Ravens) before an 8-8 season ended his time in the Bay.
Now, Harbaugh will jump back to the NFL with a Chargers team led by quarterback Justin Herbert. The 25-year-old signal caller has posted gaudy numbers over his first four seasons, but the team hasn't been able to translate that into victories. Herbert is just 30-32 as a starter with one postseason appearance.
Harbaugh has had a knack for turning teams around in quick fashion, though. Stanford won three more games in its first season under Harbaugh (2007), the 49ers had a seven-win jump in his first year (2011) and Michigan improved by five victories when he arrived (2015). Los Angeles will hope for a similar bump in 2024 after going 5-12 last season.
The partnership between Harbaugh and the Chargers also represents a reunion. The head coach played quarterback for the then-San Diego Chargers from 1999 to 2000, making the final 17 starts of his 15-year career for the Bolts.