Chargers News: How Serious Is Fresh Competitor For Jim Harbaugh's HC Services?

Will the Chargers lose the Harbaugh sweepstakes?

As your Los Angeles Chargers look to complete their head coaching hire, Jim Harbaugh is the name that has popped up everywhere. 

The current coach of the Michigan Wolverines is one of the hottest commodities on the market, but is also simultaneously the heavy odds on-favorite to snag the Bolts job, sitting at -225 odds (can you link my odds article once it's scheduled/published?)

While the Chargers have a comfortable lead on the Harbaugh sweepstakes, the Atlanta Falcons have swooped in out of seemingly nowhere, interviewing Harbaugh on Tuesday. 

This by itself is a concern, but somehow isn't the biggest concern. Instead, their decision to unblock their defensive coordinator, Ryan Nielsen from being interviewed by other teams, represents a greater issue.

#Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen, who was originally blocked from interviewing for Jacksonville's coordinator job, is now able to speak with teams, per source. Multiple clubs want to speak with him, including the Jaguars.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 17, 2024

Originally, their decision to block his interview was reflective of their potential interest in promoting him to fill their vacant head coaching role, which would make sense given what he showed this past season. 

Interviewing Harbaugh and then opening the door for Nielsen to leave, almost assures that the team has some serious confidence in their ability to land Harbaugh.

This could also be unrelated, however, as the Falcons have also had two interviews with Bill Belichick, suggesting that they have some faith in their ability to bring him aboard. 

So, long story short, the decision to let Nielsen potentially leave may be more a byproduct of a potential Belichick hire, more than anything. 

And, while Nielsen was a great defensive coordinator for them, this is a historically good head coaching class, with several candidates who are better options than Nielsen, including Harbaugh, Belichick, Mike Vrabel, and some offensive coordinators including the Lions' Ben Johnson. 

There's limited causality, and instead just a lot of correlation here – I don't think Flacons aren't true suitors for Harbaugh.