Analyzing the butterfly effect of Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL

There’s been a bevy of remarkable headlines throughout the college football offseason, but one stands above them all for On3’s Andy Staples.

During the latest episode of The Andy Staples Show for On3, the namesake was joined by Pete Nakos, and they determined what they believed to be the biggest storylines from the offseason that was. Nakos claimed Nick Saban’s retirement topped the list, but Staples decided to move towards Jim Harbaugh taking over the Los Angeles Chargers.

“There is a place you’d go that isn’t in the SEC, and it’s Michigan. That brings me to my first pick, which is Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL,” Staples said. “It’s interesting that we both went with two localized stories of a coach leaving a program, instead of one of these big national rules things, but I also think this had a massive butterfly effect.

“I mean, just last week we were still talking about guys following Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers, and I think what makes this so big is everything we talked about beforehand. He just won the national title. You’ve had the Connor Stalions stuff. The scouting stuff. Cheeseburger gate. NCAA violations. Then you have him winning the national title, and then going back to the NFL to chase the Super Bowl title that eluded him. Remember, what did they get to, they seven-yard-line, down five in the Super Bowl, when the 49ers played the Ravens. They were this close.”

Additionally, Staples highlighted the fact that it opened up the coaching gig for Sherrone Moore, and turned the Wolverines into a new chapter, as they look to defend their national title with a team that doesn’t exactly resemble last season’s squad.

“Like, it’s incredible, and it opens up all this strange stuff for Michigan,” Staples added. “You had Sherrone Moore elevated to the head coaching job, but like you said, Michigan in the spring portal, probably the most prominent shopper.”

Moving forward, Michigan will certainly be a team to keep an eye on, as they look to rebuild their program in a new shape, as Harbaugh is on to the NFL to attempt to win a Super Bowl once again. He’ll always be revered in Ann Arbor, but the focus will be elsewhere in 2024.

Time will tell if they’re able to have success, but there’s no debating the ripple effect it’s had on the sport, and we’re all interested in seeing where it goes from here.