The History of Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh

A breakdown of Jim Harbaugh as a player and coach, and his eventual return to the NFL as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers landed the biggest coaching hire they have had since Norv Turner took over the team from 2007 to 2012. The team announced that Jim Harbaugh would become the new HC, effectively returning him to the NFL. 

Harbaugh has had a storied career in the football world, and here is a history of the man's career as a player and his eventual arrival in LA. 

Growing Up

Jim Harbaugh was born with football in his DNA. His father, Jack, was a coach at multiple schools, which resulted in the team moving around a lot. When Jack landed the defensive coordinator position with Stanford, Jim transferred and graduated from Palo Alto High School. 

College Career

Jim Harbaugh committed to play quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines in 1981. However, he was the third string behind Dave Hall and starter Steve Smith. 

Harbaugh would not see any action in 1982 but would be allowed to retain four years per the red-shirt rule of the NCAA. 

By 1983, Harbaugh finally performed in the Annual Spring Game, logging 10 for 15 passes and 116 yards. Despite being described as a "pass-oriented quarterback of the future," he would still be the third-stringer behind Hall and Smith. 

In 1984, Smith would finally graduate, and Hall sustained a knee injury that would keep him from playing that season. Harbaugh would then be competing for the starter against Chris Zurbrugg and Russ Rein. 

In the 1984 spring game, he would impress again with 17 for 26 attempts, 161 yards, and an interception. After biding his time, Harbaugh was announced as QB1 in 1984. 

Harbaugh came out firing, helping Michigan upset the #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes. It was Harbaugh's passing prowess that would lead to 5,214 yards, 31 TDs, and 19 interceptions during his four years playing for Michigan. 

In his final season at Michigan in 1986, Harbaugh secured a Michigan record with 2,279 yards, which remained unbroken until 2002. His passing efficiency was only second to Vinny Testaverde, who won the Heisman Trophy that year. 

Harbaugh finished third in Heisman Trophy votes behind Testaverde and Paul Palmer. Despite not winning the Heisman, he held many accolades in 1986 including being selected as the starting QB by AP in the All-Big-Ten Conference football team, and Big Ten Player of the Year. 

Pro NFL Career

Harbaugh would declare for the NFL Draft in 1987, and be selected in the first round pick #26 by the Chicago Bears. 

Much like Michigan, Harbaugh was not given a chance to start in the beginning. While playing for legendary coach Mike Ditka in the 1987 season, Harbaugh would only see action in a limited capacity. He would play in reserve for six games. 

The 1988 season was not much different, as Harbaugh would only get 10 starts. In limited action, he completed 47 for 97 passes, 48.5 completion rate, 514 yards, and two interceptions. 

During the 1989 season with the Bears, Harbaugh began to show his brilliance after Jim McMahon left the team. Harbaugh would post his first 1,000-yard season in 1989, logging 1,204 yards, 5 TDs, and 9 INTs. 

Harbaugh would finally be given control of the offense fully in 1990, starting 14 games. He would be instrumental in leading the team to an 11-5 record and an NFC Central Division win. He would post 2,178 yards, 10 TDs, and 6 INTs. 

The 1991 season would be even more prolific for Harbaugh. He would log 3,121 yards, 15 TDs, and 16 INTs. He would help the team secure another 11-5 record, and this season would signify his debut in the NFL Postseason. 

Sadly, the Dallas Cowboys would be too much for the Bears, and they would be knocked out in the Wild Card Round.

In 1992, Harbaugh's time was wrapping up with the Bears, and the team would soon fall back to the bottom of the NFC. Despite posting 2,486 yards, 13 TDs, and 12 INTs, the team would fall to a 5-11 record. 

1993 was much of the same, with the Bears posting a 7-9 record under Harbaugh. He would log 2,002 yards, 7 TDs, and 11 INTs.

The 1994 NFL season would see Harbaugh signing with the Indianapolis Colts. In remnants of his early NFL career, he would only start nine games. In those nine games, he logged 1,440 yards, 9 TDs, and 5 INTs. 

The 1995 season with Harbaugh and the Colts was one of his most significant. After posting 2,575 yards, 17 TDs, and 6 INTs, he was nominated to his first Pro Bowl. Despite losing to the likes of Brett Favre, Jerry Rice, and Emmit Smith, Harbaugh was still nominated for MVP. 

Harbaugh would help lead the Colts to the playoffs in 1995, but they would ultimately fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Conference Championship. Despite posting 267 yards and 1 TD, the Steelers would outlast the Colts 20-16.

Harbaugh continued with the Colts in 1996, logging 2,630 yards, 13 TDs, and 11 INTs. Much like the previous season, he would help lead the Colts to their second playoff appearance in back-to-back years. 

Once again, the Colts would lose to the Steelers in the playoffs, this time in the wildcard round, losing 42-14. 

Harbaugh would spend one final season with the Colts in 1997, logging 2,060 yards, 10 TDs, and 4 INTs. The Colts would go 3-13, and Harbaugh would be out four games for punching Jim Kelly in the face.

In 1998, Harbaugh was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a third and fourth-round pick. 

During the 1998 season, Harbaugh started 12 games and played in 14, logging 1,839 yards, 12 TDs, and 11 INTs. 

Harbaugh's time with the Ravens was one and done, and he would end his career with the San Diego Chargers. Harbaugh was brought onto the team in 1999, serving as a backup to Ryan Leaf. 

Harbaugh would get his chance to start with the Chargers in 1999 when Leaf suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. During the 1999 season, he logged 2,761 yards, 10 TDs, and 14 INTs. 

Harbaugh's final season as a player in 2000, he played in only seven games, logging 1,416 yards, 8 TDs, and 10 INTs. 

Harbaugh was signed by the Detroit Lions in 2001 but was cut right before the regular season began. The Carolina Panthers would then sign Harbaugh, but he would not see any action with the team despite dressing for six games. 

Harbaugh may have been looked at as a journeyman QB, but he held the record for 1,023 completions for the Bears before Jay Cutler broke it with 1,034. 

He was also inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor for being one of the most popular players in history. Shortly after his 15 years in the NFL, he would transition to coaching. 

Coaching Career

While playing in the NFL between 1994 and 2001, Harbaugh was an NCAA-certified unpaid assistant for the University of Kentucky. He worked under his father Jack, and was responsible for being an offensive consultant. 

He also scouted and recruited students in multiple states for the university. He would end up recruiting 17 of the players who played on the Division I-AA National Championship team. 

Starting in 2002, Harbaugh would begin his NFL coaching career, landing his first quarterbacks coach position with the Oakland Raiders. He would coach Rich Gannon, who went on to win the AP MVP Award, led the team to Super Bowl XXXVII, and was nominated to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003.

After his two-year stint with the Raiders, Harbaugh would head back to the NCAA, becoming the head coach of the University of San Diego. During his 2004 to 2006 seasons coaching the team, he led the team to 2005 and 2006 Pioneer Football League championship wins

Harbaugh would then take his talents to Stanford as their head coach from 2007 to 2010. During his time with the team, he would post a 29-21 record, taking the team to the Sun Bowl in 2009 (which they lost), and the Orange Bowl in 2010. 

Stanford was ranked #4 in the nation in 2010, held a 12-1 record, and secured an Orange Bowl win. 

After 2010, Harbaugh would head back to the NFL, securing a head coaching gig with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were a mess before Harbaugh arrived, having posted mediocre and bad records through eight seasons. 

In 2011 when Harbaugh took over, the team completely rebounded with a 13-3 record, losing the NFC Conference finals to the New York Giants 20-17. 

Harbaugh would replicate his success in 2012, taking the 49ers to the Super Bowl. After posting an 11-4 record, and winning the NFC Championship—the 49ers would face off against Harbaugh's brother's team, the Baltimore Ravens. 

Sadly, John Harbaugh and his Ravens were able to eke out the 34-31 win against the 49ers. 

Harbaugh was still determined to land a Super Bowl win, taking the 49ers to their third conference title game. Sadly, the 12-4 49ers lost to their divisional rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. 

Harbaugh was given one final season with the 49ers, ending the season with an 8-8 record. 

Harbaugh would then head back to Michigan, which was his alma mater. Harbaugh spent the next eight years turning the program around completely from 2015 to 2023.

In three of his first four seasons with Michigan, Harbaugh would coach the team into a 10-3 record, pulling in a Citrus Bowl win in 2015 and a Peach Bowl win in 2018. Michigan would lose the Orange Bowl in 2016 and the Outback Bowl in 2018. 

In the 2019 season, Harbaugh and Michigan would post a 9-4 record and would lose the Citrus Bowl this time around. 

The 2020 season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team would secure a 2-4 record. 

The 2021 season would see Michigan return as one of the best programs in the nation, securing a 12-2 record, but losing the Orange Bowl to #3-ranked Georgia. 

The 2022 season saw much of the same winning culture that Harbaugh instilled in his team, as Michigan secured a 13-1 record, but ultimately failed to capitalize on the final game of the season. The Wolverines would fall to TCU. 

Harbaugh had been flirting with the idea of returning the the NFL in the 2022 season, but ultimately stayed to coach Michigan one final time. Their undefeated record of 15-0 led to a #1 ranking and a National Championship title. 

Despite Michigan wanting to retain Harbaugh, his return to the NFL began to garner more steam as the weeks leading up to the National Championship began. Despite Harbaugh stating he wanted to focus on the championship, rumors began to swirl. 

Shortly after dominating Washington, Harbaugh began to meet with NFL teams. 

Michigan had offered Harbaugh an extension worth around $125 million and 10 years, but the draw to win a Super Bowl became too big. 

After speaking to the Chargers and Atlanta Falcons, the Bolts made sure to keep him in the building for his second interview. 

On January 24, the Chargers announced that Jim Harbaugh would become their next head coach. Harbaugh naturally brought over Michigan staff with him like DC Jesse Minter and strength coach, Ben Herbert. 

Harbaugh is a proven winner, and his culture change should be significant for the Chargers moving forward. He instills toughness wherever he goes, and that is what this team needs right now. 

Time will tell if he can help the organization rebound the same way he did for the 49ers, but we bet that he can certainly inspire the team to become an AFC powerhouse.