(Photo: Fox News)
Jim Harbaugh has made the name for himself around the football community. He was a starting Quarterback in the NFL for 14 seasons with his longest stint being with the Chicago Bears. After his playing days, he got involved with coaching. The first major job he took was with the Stanford Cardinal in 2007 when he was named their next Head Coach. His best season with the Cardinal came in 2010 when he led them to their first 11-win season in school history and an appearance in the Orange Bowl. Jim also happened to coach a Quarterback named Andrew Luck in college. A year later, he becomes the Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers and in his first season there, they were a game away from the Super Bowl. After four seasons coaching in the NFL, Jim returned back to the college sidelines. Back to his alma mater in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he coached the Wolverines for nine seasons. The last few years have been memorable. Jim broke the labels that he can’t win big games, can’t win bowl games or beat the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also capped off this season with wins in the Rose Bowl over the Alabama Crimson Tide which would be Nick Saban’s final game as a Head Coach and he won a National Title over the Washington Huskies on January 8th. As of late, the rumors have been swirling around. Is he going back to the NFL? He definitely is! The Los Angeles Chargers have hired their one-time starting Quarterback to be their next Head Coach.
This is one of the best football minds in our sport today. From watching him back with the 49ers in his first stint to how he’s become the coach he is today and dating back to the Michigan days, he’s come a long way. Jim knows how to get the best out of his men and his players leave everything out on the field for him. That’s when you know a football team wants to play for their Head Coach. Jim is a teacher and always had a way of showing his men the ins and outs of the game. Being a Quarterback is similar to being a Head Coach in a way. You have the command and control of the offense, but with Head Coaching, you have control of the entire football team. If I needed a word to describe Jim, it’s passionate. Some coaches are laid back on the sidelines, some show no emotion and then you have some who will have no problems at all showing their emotions. I’ve seen Jim jump around on the sidelines when things are going well and when they aren’t either meaning he’s frustrated. This man wears his emotions all on his sleeve to sum it up. He has no problem hiding the emotion whatsoever. The label “players coach” always comes up in conversation and that’s Jim Harbaugh to a T. He’s a former player and can relate to the ups and downs along with the rigorous things a football season can bring to a player because he has experienced it himself. I also like the leader he’s become. He knows how to get a locker room to follow his lead and that’s all you could ask for from a Head Coach.
The Chargers needed to do this. I remember I was asked who would be a better hire for this team. Would it be Bill Belichick or Jim Harbaugh and I didn’t hesitate with my answer as I said Jim. His personality is a much better fit for that town I feel and Justin Herbert I feel will grow considerably as a football player. Jim is a former Quarterback that can work wonders. Since he’s become a coach, he’s had success at every level. He put Stanford back on the map, the 49ers made the NFC Championship game each year under Jim and at Michigan, he won 86 games and restored college football’s winningest program after some down years. He knows how to reshape a team and he will have his work cut out for him in Inglewood. Brandon Staley didn’t know what he was doing. Also, the Ravens and Chargers play each other next season. We’ll get to see the two brothers coach against one another again!
