Who will replace Jim Harbaugh at Michigan?

Jim Harbaugh is the first college football coach to go straight to the NFL after winning a championship. 

Who will replace Jim Harbaugh at Michigan?

Sherrone Moore and Jim Harbaugh (Via Maize n Brew/CBS Sports)

It’s official! Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan Wolverines as he accepted the Los Angeles Chargers’ offer to join as head coach. Though there were high chances that he wouldn’t have to leave Michigan, the chance to win the Super Bowl, that too with his former team was too good to pass on. As he leaves behind a legacy in Michigan, who just came off winning the National Championship title; the bigger question that comes to mind — who will replace Harbaugh? 

According to ESPN, Michigan is expected to promote the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Sherrone Moore by offering him the head coach position. Interestingly, Moore is the one who replaced Harbaugh during his suspension, and now that he officially vacated his throne, Moore is once again in the line of succession. 

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Right after the news of Harbaugh’s departure from Michigan after nine years, broke on the internet, the University’s athletic director Warde Manuel released a press statement, saying:

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We are working quickly to hire the next head coach for the program and will do everything possible to keep this current staff and team together.
Warde Manuel said

Another source close to the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy said:

It’s 99.9 (percent). It's Sherrone’s job to lose.
Brett McMurphy said

Though nothing is official yet and based on the words of Manuel, he seemed to have the blessing of the locker room. 

This takes us back to an instance from last year’s January when offensive lineman Trevor Keegan told The Athletic’s reporter Bruce Feldman about how he was ready to get a transfer from Michigan because he wasn’t getting more opportunities to play on the field, but the only reason he stayed was Moore, who intervened and made things feasible for him by giving him a new perspective on life as well as football.

Jim Harbaugh’s massive contract deal with the Chargers

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, coach Harbaugh signed a five-year contract deal with the Chargers, starting the 2024-25 NFL season. He is the first college football coach to go straight to the NFL after winning a championship. 

Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh (via NY Post)

Back when the Chargers were pursuing the 60-year-old, he appeared the franchise sure is thinking big numbers for this hiring, considering how big of a name Harbaugh has in terms of his long track record of success. 

The Chargers have gone $27.5 million over their usual salary cap for Harbaugh, as reported by ESPN’s Roster Management System. It appears, this time, the Chargers aren’t ready to compromise anything, and just put everything toward the franchise’s future.

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