Jim Harbaugh explains 'tough' decision to leave Michigan for Chargers: 'There's no Lombardi Trophy in college football'
Jim Harbaugh departed Michigan Wolverines football for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers last week. He held his final U-M team meeting Friday and is in Baltimore Sunday, supporting his brother, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, as he leads his team into battle against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Harbaugh joined the CBS Sports pregame show set before the game, sharing his thoughts on his decision to leave Michigan and return to the NFL, where he was a quarterback for 15 years and the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, guiding his team to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.
“It was tough. I was torn,” Harbaugh admitted. “My wife, kids [were torn]. I love Michigan, but I love the NFL, too. And there’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football, and I got so many sands left in the hourglass, and I want to take a crack at that. There’s nowhere better to do it than with the Los Angeles Chargers [with] Susie Spanos, Dean Spanos, Ed McGuire, John Spanos and this great quarterback [Justin Herbert].”
Harbaugh said he has already spoken with some of the Chargers’ top players.
“I have,” Harbaugh said of if he’s talked with Herbert. “I met him, and [safety] Derwin James, [wide receiver] Keenan Allen — pro’s pros, these guys. But I was a little star struck meeting Justin.”
The former Michigan coach was asked what his message will be to his Chargers team at his first team meeting.
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“I’ll tell you what, I’m probably going to reference this right here,” Harbaugh said, looking out at the home of the Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, as the building began to fill up for the AFC championship game. “We work together, we win together — and it’s worth it. The hard work, the sacrifice, the pressure, all of it … why would somebody put themselves through that? Because the rewards are just so darn good, and you can see that today. And what a football game we’re gonna have today.”
Harbaugh was vocal in his support for Sherrone Moore to become Michigan’s next head coach, and that’s exactly who athletic director Warde Manuel promoted. Moore was a Wolverines assistant coach for the prior six seasons. He was introduced as the head man with a Saturday morning press conference.
Harbaugh posted an 89-25 record at Michigan, winning three Big Ten championships and the 2023 national title. He was an All-American player for the Maize and Blue from 1982-86, before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick to the Chicago Bears.
