Jim Harbaugh is officially back in the NFL … We had a feeling this day would eventually come – and sure enough it did.
The Los Angeles Chargers are the lucky team that will be welcoming in Harbaugh. He’ll have high expectation right off the bat, especially considering how talented the Bolts roster is – led by star quarterback Justin Herbert.
Many people have been wondering what the exact terms of the contract are that Harbaugh received.
At first, there were conflicting reports as everyone speculated what it took financially to lure Harbaugh back to the pros.
Well, we have to wait no longer as we found out that the deal Harbaugh signed is for five-years, $80 million – an annual salary of $16 million per year.
Jim Harbaugh has inked a 5-year contract with the #Chargers, valued at $16 million annually, for a total of $80 million. This significant investment by the Spanos family demonstrates their readiness to invest heavily. (Reported by Mike Florio)#NFL #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/mZtnjZqBUl
— OutOfSightSports🚀™️ (@OOSSports) January 31, 2024
With the massive deal, Harbaugh becomes the second highest paid coach in the league, just behind Sean Payton, who hauls in $18 million annually from the Denver Broncos.
Harbaugh is coming off an undefeated national championship season with the Michigan Wolverines.
He reportedly had a 10-year, $125 million contract extension on the table if he was interested in remaining in Ann Arbor.
While the decision was a tough one, he admitted the pull to the NFL was just too strong to pass up.
“I love Michigan, but I love the NFL too. There’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football,” Harbaugh stated on the CBS pregame show ahead of the AFC Championship game.
And why wouldn't they ? He's been a NFL coach before, taking a team with a mid QB to the Super Bowl, went back to coach in college and turned Michigan into national champs. Yeah, how would any team *not* be "all in" on that ???
— Ben Smith (@Sherard1969) January 31, 2024
The Chargers finished the 2023 season with an incredibly disappointing 5-12 record.
The mess got so bad that head coach Brandon Staley was fired mid-season – a move that no could have possibly disagreed with.
Unlike the majority of the other teams who had been searching for a new head coach in this cycle, the Chargers have a playoff-worthy roster and most importantly have a potential generational quarterback talent in Herbert.
“I got so many sands left in the hourglass and I want to take a crack at that,” Harbaugh said, referring to winning a Super Bowl like his brother John did with the Baltimore Ravens.
“There’s nowhere better to do it than with the Los Angeles Chargers … Susie Spanos, Dean Spanos, Ed McGuire, John Spanos, and this great quarterback,” he added.
NFL:OAKLAND/LV RAIDERS:
LA Chargers new head coach Jim Harbaugh is getting $16M a yr to coach
This is part of the reason Mark Davis passed on Harbaugh, his contract demands..and it’s a least a four year deal…you give Gruden $10M, Harbaugh going to want more— E Farrell Sports Media (@efarrell5050) January 31, 2024
Herbert, has put up impressive numbers in his young career, throwing for 17,223 yards and 114 touchdowns in four seasons.
However, the team has only made the playoffs once during that span – and of course blew a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars in that game.
Harbaugh, who previously coached the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance, feels he has the core in place to do it again with the Chargers.
“We work together, we win together and it’s worth it,” Harbaugh said. “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.”
So in LA it is only worth about $10M per year.
— DPH (@DPHBuckeyes) January 31, 2024
What do you think of Harbaugh’s contract? … Is he worth $16 million per year?
Were the Chargers bidding against themselves in a way?
Either way, the reality is coaching contracts are steadily climbing higher and higher … Also, no one is doubting how special of a coach Harbaugh is.
In other words, the Chargers did what they had to do to get their man – and they deserve credit for doing so.
As far as Harbaugh – enjoy those California taxes big boy!!