COSTA MESA, Calif. — Jim Harbaugh was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, leaving Michigan after capping his ninth season leading college football’s winningest program with the Wolverines’ first national championship since 1997.
Harbaugh signed a five-year deal, a person close to the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the Chargers, although they announced his hire, did not announce the terms of his contract.
Harbaugh made the highly anticipated decision to leave his alma mater and go back to the NFL after a second interview in Los Angeles, giving him a chance to resume his chase for the Super Bowl championship that eluded him as a quarterback and coach.
He will be the first former Chargers player to return to the team as head coach. He played for them in 1999-2000, when they were still in San Diego, before retiring after the 2001 season.
“My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there leaves a lasting impact. I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine,” Harbaugh said in a statement released Wednesday night. “I’m remarkably fortunate to have been afforded the privilege of coaching at places where life’s journey has created strong personal connections for me. When I played for the Chargers, the Spanos family could not have been more gracious or more welcoming.