Jim Harbaugh watch: Los Angeles Chargers now Rooney Rule compliant
After Michigan won the national championship, all eyes turned to what’s next for Jim Harbaugh. Rumors continue to swirl about a possible return to the NFL, and he interviewed with two teams — the Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons — this week.
The Chargers have been a team to watch since firing Brandon Staley, but the interview process still had to play out before they could make a move. A Thursday interview could indicate where the franchise is in the hiring process, though.
Los Angeles interviewed former Stanford coach David Shaw, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. On the surface, it seems like just another conversation as the Chargers go through their list of candidates. But by interviewing Shaw, the team is officially in compliance with the “Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and football operations positions.
As a result, Los Angeles can now enter the next step of the hiring process — making an offer.
The Chargers have now interviewed 10 candidates to replace Staley. Harbaugh’s interview took place on Monday, and the franchise appears to be making a push to lure him away from Michigan. However, they’re not done with their interviews just yet, with former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel next on the list on Thursday.
More on Jim Harbaugh’s NFL resume, why he’s an attractive candidate for the Chargers
Harbaugh has a 44-19-1 overall record as an NFL head coach with the 49ers from 2011-14, but he also amassed an 86-25 record at Michigan after returning to his alma mater in 2015. Last week, he led his alma mater to its first national championship in 26 years, and the question immediately became what would be next.
Harbaugh hasn’t yet commented on his desire to go back to the NFL. In fact, when asked by On3’s Andy Staples if a Super Bowl was on his list of accomplishments, Harbaugh said he wanted to enjoy the victory.
“I just want to enjoy this,” Harbaugh said. “I hope you give me that. Can a guy have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future? Like I said the other day, yeah, I hope to have a future. I hope there’s a tomorrow, a day after tomorrow, a next week, a next month, a next year.”
While the NFL rumors swirl around Harbaugh — who played for the Chargers at the tail end of his career — there’s also the idea he could stay at Michigan. The university has been working on a contract extension for some time now that could make him among the game’s highest-paid coaches.