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Bret Bielema trashes Jim Harbaugh over old video, accuses him of running to NFL

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•01/28/25•

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Jim Harbaugh by Melanie Maxwell / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan to become the head coach of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers. (Melanie Maxwell / USA TODAY NETWORK)

The latest news on Michigan‘s sign-stealing scandal dropped on Tuesday. Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reported that the program plans to fight the charges involved with Connor Stalions. Of course, Jim Harbaugh was the head coach during the on-field run and when allegations came to light with Michigan eventually winning a national championship.

Well, an old video of Harbaugh has surfaced on social media. Harbaugh was the 49ers head coach at the time and produced a quote some might find relevant today.

“You always want to be above approach,” Harbaugh said. “Especially when you’re good because you don’t want people coming back and saying ‘Oh they’re winning because they’re cheating.’ We want to be above the approach in everything, play by the rules. If you cheat to win then you’ve already lost.”

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema found the video on X and decided to call out Harbaugh. He questions why Harbaugh “ran to the NFL” after Michigan won the national championship.

A few minutes later, Bielema found another clip of an old Harbaugh quote. This one was Harbaugh explaining it’s important to tell the truth, especially when being considered a leader. He used an example of his favorite daytime television judge to get his point across too.

Bielema did not have too much of a response, instead opting to use three emojis.

“Be honest,” Harbaugh said. “Tell the truth. If I want them to tell the truth then I have to tell the truth all the time when you’re in a leadership position. Judge Judy, I got 90 episodes of Judge Judy tivoed on my TV and that’s what I watch. One thing about her courtroom is — if you lie in Judge Judy’s courtroom, it’s over.”

Just one Illinois-Michigan matchup had both Bielema and Harbaugh on the sidelines, resulting in a win for the Wolverines. It was a close one though, as Michigan escaped with a last-minute field goal a week before the Ohio State game in 2022. They went on to win the Big Ten, and make the College Football Playoff but lost to TCU in the semifinal.

Harbaugh is now in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers, something Bielema clearly questions with the NCAA investigation still ongoing. Bielema himself is preparing for the 2025 season with Illinois, hoping to make some noise in the Big Ten.

For now, it’s some offseason trash talk from Bielema’s end — who appears always willing to speak his mind on social media.