Sherrone Moore reveals Jim Harbaugh won't serve as honorary captain for season opener

Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore has revealed that Jim Harbaugh will no longer serve as the team’s honorary captain for the season opener. Jack and Jackie Harbaugh will be there in his place.

According to Moore, Harbaugh decided it was better to stay “in the foxhole” with the Chargers instead of taking a “deep, long bow” at Michigan.

Jim Harbaugh became the head coach at Michigan in 2015. He was tasked with turning what was, at the time, a struggling program around and found immense success doing so. In nine seasons as the head coach there, Harbaugh went 86-25 and managed to win three straight games against Ohio State, three straight Big Ten Championships, and a national championship in his last three seasons there.

Following the 2023 season when Harbaugh managed to win that national championship, he made the decision to return to the NFL and became the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Less than a week ago, it was revealed by athletic director Warde Manuel that Jim Harbaugh would be returning to be the team’s honorary captain for its Week 1 game against Fresno State. It would be an opportunity for all of the Big House to make sure that he got a curtain call on what ended up being an excellent career at Michigan.

At the same time, the Los Angeles Chargers are starting their season just one weekend after Michigan opens the season against Fresno State. So, it is close to the start of the season in a highly involved and stressful job.

That opening game will also be Moore’s first game as the full-time head coach at Michigan. He previously filled in for Harbaugh during the time that he was suspended last season.

Jim Harbaugh on reported NCAA notice of allegations for Michigan

Since Jim Harbaugh left Michigan for the NFL, the Wolverines have been dealing with issues from the NCAA related to the end of his time with the program. That notably includes a draft of a notice of allegations [NOA] related to the sign-stealing scandal that led to his suspension for the final three regular season games of 2023.

Since the news of the NOA came out, Harbaugh responded to the allegations, emphasizing that he doesn’t apologize.

“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson. I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I’ve coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right,” Harbaugh said.

“Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So for, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”