Adam Schefter: Jim Harbaugh 'near if not at the top' of LA Chargers' list for next head coach

With that elusive national title finally in hand and multiple ongoing NCAA investigations into Michigan’s football program, ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes this is the offseason when Jim Harbaugh will finally jump back into the NFL ranks.

But of course, there’s the question of exactly where would the Wolverines head coach wind up if he did make a break for the NFL. On Thursday morning’s edition of Get Up, Schefter joined to name two teams who could be landing spots for Harbaugh. Particularly, there’s one AFC West franchise who is seriously considering him.

“He’s met with two teams. He’s met with the Chargers and he’s met with the Falcons,” Schefter told Get Up host Mike Greenberg, going more in-depth on the Chargers.

“Now, the Chargers are a team that, to me, has identified him and I think he’s right near, if not, at the top of their list,” Schefter continued. “And the question is whether they can get something done with Jim, who’s spoken in the past with the Vikings two years ago about going to the NFL, it didn’t happen, and with the Broncos last year, didn’t happen.”

Despite those past flirtations with a return to the pros, Schefter doesn’t think the rumors are mere teases this time around. With the ultimate goal achieved at UM, plus the ongoing investigations, there’s more reason to believe this year could be the one where Harbaugh makes a move.

“This seems to be the year, with everything he’s accomplished at Michigan, with him taking that school to a national championship, the NCAA coming after him, with the talent leaving from Michigan, with the appeal that the Chargers job would have,” explained Adam Schefter.

He also noted the family dynamic within the Chargers’ leadership that would appeal to Harbaugh.

“The Chargers are a family-run team by the Spanos family, which, Jim Harbaugh is very into family. It’s very important for him,” Schefter added.

Speaking of family, there’s a pretty close family member to Jim Harbaugh who issued quite the praise amid the coaching rumors.

“John Harbaugh said this week on my podcast that ‘Jim Harbaugh has turned into the best team-builder in sports,’ and that, ‘if you want somebody to build your team’ — the Chargers could certainly use that — ‘then look no further than Jim Harbaugh,'” Schefter continued. “That’s one of the main appeals that he now has.”

Michigan fans, LA Charger fans, and larger football audiences as a whole might want to be on the lookout for a potential Harbaugh-Chargers union, per NFL insider Adam Schefter.

“What he can do if he were to go into a place like the Chargers — they need him, he loves Justin Herbert, as we know,” Schefter said. “So there seems to be certainly a match there that’s waiting to happen if the two sides can figure out a way to make a deal there.”