Chargers News: Bolts to Meet With Jim Harbaugh Next Week

The Chargers will interview Jim Harbaugh next week.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been busy interviewing candidates for their head coach and general manager vacancies. So far, the Bolts have interviewed Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, current OC Kellen Moore, and interim HC Giff Smith. 

Despite the list already being full of great candidates, the Chargers are still pursuing Michigan's Jim Harbaugh. As soon as it was rumored that Harbaugh would be leaving college for a return to the NFL, rumors began to spin about his landing the Chargers HC job. 

What is confirmed is the interest on both sides. Harbaugh reportedly sees the Chargers as the underdog variety he coached when he took over the San Francisco 49ers job in 2011. Now, he could replicate that success by rebounding the Bolts. 

Things are about to ramp up for Jim Harbaugh: It’s believed the #Chargers will speak with him next week, amidst ongoing internal debate in Las Vegas and negotiations with Michigan, which won’t give him up without a fight. Details from me and @RapSheet: https://t.co/MyD2onjoYv

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 13, 2024

The Raiders have had interest in Harbaugh as well, but there is growing talk that they would be hiring current interim HC Antonio Pierce as the HC. Pierce helped the Raiders secure an 8-9 record. Multiple players have asked that Pierce be given the job. 

With the Raiders being out of the Harbaugh sweepstakes, he would have a clear path to the Chargers job. That is not considering Michigan offering Harbaugh a new contract to keep him there, as he just won the CFP Championship. 

Harbaugh has been linked to an NFL return for years, but this year is the first time that those reports have far more validity. He would join a Chargers team that struggled in 2023 because of mismanagement in contracts and massive amounts of injuries. 

The team needs a bit of rebuild. There might be no one more suited to draft college players than Harbaugh, who spent the last eight years evaluating talent to bring to Michigan. 

Harbaugh had a successful run in the NFL coaching the Niners to an overall 44-19-1 record in four seasons. He also helped the team secure the NFC Championship in 2012 but lost to the Ravens in the Super Bowl. 

Harbaugh is a winning coach and one that could change the culture for the better in LA. The Chargers are likely to offer him a deal once the interview concludes.