Jim Harbaugh's decision to leave Michigan for the NFL did not generate much surprise.
As soon as the Harbaugh's Wolverines won the national championship, the writing appeared to be on the wall. Not only is Harbaugh a well-regarded head coach, but something kept calling him back to the NFL, something he has referenced in the past: the Lombardi Trophy.
Speaking before the AFC championship game between the Ravens and Chiefs on Sunday, the new Chargers head coach explained that while it was a difficult decision to leave Michigan, the allure of a potential Super Bowl won out.
"I love Michigan, but I love the NFL too. And there's no Lombardi Trophy in college football," Harbaugh said. "I got so many sands left in the hourglass, and I wanna take a crack at that. And there's no where better to do that than with the Los Angeles Chargers."
“I love Michigan, but I love the NFL too. There’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football.” - Jim Harbaugh on leaving Michigan for the @Chargers pic.twitter.com/Gbc9U1ysvq
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 28, 2024
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Harbaugh praised the Los Angeles ownership group, as well as the team's star quarterback Justin Herbert, who, along with safety Derwin James and wide receiver Keenan Allen, Harbaugh said he has met since taking the job.
"Prop's pros," Harbaugh said. "I was a little starstruck meeting Justin."
Harbaugh left the 49ers after the 2014 season and immediately joined Michigan, his alma mater. Though the Wolverines struggled to get past key rivals through the first several seasons of his coaching tenure, he later guided Michigan to three straight wins over Ohio State, three straight Big Ten titles and three straight College Football Playoff berths.
His final CFP berth ended with a national championship over No. 2 Washington, capping off an undefeated season for Michigan.
Harbaugh had taken interviews with NFL teams in past years as he has considered leaving Michigan for a return to the pros. His undefeated season finally led him to leave the Wolverines. But he leaves them as a powerhouse that has reestablished its blue-blood status in college football.
Harbaugh has yet to meet the rest of the Chargers, but he said he is going to tell them about the experience at the AFC championship, where his brother, John Harbaugh, is looking earn a path to play for his second Lombardi Trophy.
"I'll tell you what. I'm probably going to reference this right here," Harbaugh said. "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 so darn good."
