Jim Harbaugh

University of Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema took a shot at former University of Michigan and current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh on social media Wednesday.

Replying to a video on X that featured Harbaugh saying, "If you cheat to win, then you've already lost," during his time as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Bielema threw some shade at Harbaugh regarding how his tenure at Michigan ended:

During Harbaugh's final season at Michigan in 2023, analyst Connor Stalions resigned from his role with the team amid an NCAA investigation into allegations that he was the leader of an illegal sign-stealing operation.

The Wolverines went a perfect 15-0 and won the national championship in 2023, but Harbaugh left his alma mater at the end of the season to take the Chargers' head coaching job.

During the 2023 campaign, Harbaugh had to serve a pair of suspensions due to NCAA violations.

The first suspension was a self-imposed, three-game ban as a result of recruiting violations, and then he served another three-game suspension later in the season as punishment for the sign-stealing scandal.

Sherrone Moore, who is now the head coach at Michigan, won all six games as the interim head coach while Harbaugh was out, and Harbaugh was allowed to return for the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.

Back in August, after Harbaugh had already left for the NFL, the NCAA provided Michigan with a formal Notice of Allegations related to the sign-stealing investigation.

Several current and former members of the Michigan football program, including Harbaugh, were accused of committing Level I violations.

On Tuesday, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported that Michigan intends to fight the NCAA on the allegations, with the university stating that the NCAA is "grossly overreaching" and "wildly overcharging" the program.

In his first season back in the NFL, Harbaugh led the Chargers to an 11-6 record and a playoff berth, marking the fourth time in his five seasons as an NFL head coach that he secured a playoff berth.

As for Michigan, the Wolverines took a big step back from 2023 to 2024, finishing 8-5. However, Michigan did beat rival and eventual national championship-winning Ohio State for a fourth consecutive year.

Bielema, who coached Wisconsin in the Big Ten from 2006 to 2012, returned to the conference with Illinois in 2021 after a five-year run at Arkansas.

He led the Fighting Illini to a 10-3 mark in 2024, which was their best record since 2001 when they went 10-2.

Included in those 10 wins was a 21-7 home triumph over a Michigan team that was the No. 24-ranked squad in the nation at the time of the game.

The University of Michigan sent a 137-page document to the NCAA in response to the organization's notice of allegations accusing the program of 11 violations in response to a scouting and sign-stealing scheme led by ex-Wolverine staffer Connor Stalions.

Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger obtained a portion of the document and broke the news, noting in particular that the school has no plans to enter a "negotiated resolution" with the NCAA. In addition, Michigan defended ex-head coach Jim Harbaugh, current head coach Sherrone Moore, other Michigan staffers and even Stalions on the matter.

Per Dellenger:

"In the 137-page document — a portion of which Yahoo Sports obtained — Michigan makes clear that it will not enter into a negotiated resolution with the NCAA over the alleged wrongdoing, vigorously defending its former head coach, current head coach, several staff members and even Stalions, the low-level assistant who orchestrated one of the most elaborate sign-stealing systems in college football history on the way to the school winning the 2023 national championship. The school purports that the sign-stealing system offered 'minimal relevance to competition,' was not credibly proven by NCAA investigators and should be treated as a minor violation."

Six of the NCAA's 11 violations are deemed to be a Level I variety, categorized as a "severe breach of conduct."

Stalions has previously denied stealing signs from future Michigan opponents by in-person scouting (which is illegal) when he interviewed with the NCAA last Apil.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and Mark Schlabach reported that video clips from Stalions' interview with the NCAA appear in the Netflix documentary Sign Stealer.

Stalions also said he didn't "recall directing anyone to go to a game" as well when asked if he had done that. He no longer works for Michigan after resigning from his football analyst position in November 2023. The month before, Michigan suspended Stalions amid the NCAA's investigation into the program.

ESPN's Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel broke news on NCAA's notice of allegation on Aug. 4. The organization stated Stalions was the ringleader of a scheme that led to Michigan illegally scouting at least 13 future opponents for a total of 58 different times from 2021-2023.

Harbaugh, now the Los Angeles Chargers head coach, has fiercely denied knowing about any scheme.

"Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised on that lesson," Harbaugh told reporters in at the team's training camp on Aug. 5. "I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I've coached.

"No one's perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So for me, it's back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."

The NCAA issued a four-year show-cause order and a one-year suspension last August in response to its investigation. Harbaugh was notably suspended six games in 2023, three for recruiting violations (self-imposed by the school) during the COVID-19 dead period and three more by the Big Ten in response to the aforementioned scheme.

Regarding Harbaugh, Michigan says the NCAA's charge against him is "without merit."

"The NCAA alleges that Harbaugh failed to cooperate between Oct. 20 and Jan. 24, 2024 when he did not produce text and telephone records from his personal cell prior to his departure from the school," Dellenger wrote.

"Imaging of Harbaugh's phones — his personal and work — were part of a large initial collection of data that included imaging of phones and other devices from 10 individuals, the school says, including two computers assigned to Stalions and an external hard drive owned by Stalions.

"However, there were 'legitimate concerns' that the data being imaged contained personal and sensitive information and/or attorney-client communications, so images were withheld. The NCAA did not receive Harbaugh's images by the deadline and deemed him to have failed to comply."

Moore, now Michigan's head coach, was a co-offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022 and the team's offensive coordinator in 2023. He was also the team's interim head coach for four games for Harbaugh in 2023. Moore was also suspended for a game during the 2023 season due to the aforementioned recruiting violations.

Moore is notably accused of deleting 52 text messages with Stalions.

Dellenger spoke more on the matter.

"In its response, Michigan and Moore acknowledge the deleted messages. However, the school contends that the texts were 'innocuous and not material to the investigation' and that Moore cooperated fully with the investigation, even turning over his phone for imaging — a move that revealed the previously deleted messages.

"The coach told school officials that he deleted the messages in anger and frustration shortly after the bombshell news story broke, suggesting that he did not want one person, Stalions, to receive credit for 'all the work that' coaches and players put into the championship run."

Generally speaking, in the document obtained by Dellenger, Michigan claims many of the allegations lack "merit or credible evidence." However, the school does admit in-person scouting took place. Dellenger provided more information.

"In its response, the school acknowledges that some impermissible in-person scouting appears to have occurred — 'though less than the (NCAA) claims'— and that some recruiting violations occurred, as well. All of the wrongdoing, it says, will be addressed in the Committee on Infractions hearing and it will advise committee members of self-imposed penalties."

Ultimately, Michigan is digging its heels in and refusing to back down a year off the team's 15-0 national championship season. Now the fight really begins between Michigan and the NCAA, which won't go away any time soon.

Jim Harbaugh went to bat for his quarterback after fans criticized Justin Herbert for his performance in the Los Angeles Chargers' wild-card loss to the Houston Texans.

Harbaugh said the criticism is unwarranted and that the coaching staff is more to blame than the quarterback.

Harbaugh told reporters:

Completely unfair. I wouldn't spend two more seconds thinking about what happened in that game. It didn't go good, and that's on me, that's my responsibility, that's my accountability. I really felt going into that tournament that we were as good as the best teams in the playoffs. Not just as good as any team, but as good as the best teams in the playoffs... We did him a disservice and didn't put him in the positions to be successful enough, but he played like a beast. … There's nobody in this entire organization who gives more blood, sweat and tears and contributes more, produces more for the entire organization than Justin Herbert.

Herbert had a strong year after his 2023 season was cut short due to an injury. He threw for 3,870 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions, adding 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

A good year from Herbert was marred by his performance in the playoffs. He threw for 242 yards and a touchdown but gave up four interceptions in the 32-12 loss. One of his interceptions was a 38-yard pick-six that gave the Texans a 20-6 lead heading into halftime.

Herbert, who just wrapped up his fifth season in the NFL, is now 0-2 in the postseason. His other loss came in 2022 when Los Angeles lost 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs.

But Herbert's two playoff losses haven't diminished the Chargers' respect for him. Along with Harbaugh, general manager Joe Hortiz defended Herbert, pointing to several other great quarterbacks who struggled in the playoffs early in their careers.

"I hear the narrative and all that, but there's a lot of great quarterbacks in this league that may not have had the ideal start to their playoff career," Hortiz said. "Peyton Manning was 0-3 his first five years. Lamar Jackson's, it was 0-2. So if we're going to set a narrative on Justin off of two playoff games, that's absurd. What I watch this guy do, he's phenomenal, he's a phenomenal competitor, leader, playmaker. We'll roll with him. They're gonna roll me outta here before they roll him outta here, I can promise you that. He's special, and special things are ahead for him. Book it."

Herbert isn't going anywhere, as he's under contract through the 2029 season, and it seems Los Angeles has no desire to part with him. Instead, the Chargers will look to build around the star quarterback as they look to find success in Year 2 of the Harbaugh era.

Jim Harbaugh will have multiple procedures to address his health following his first season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

ESPN's Kris Rhim reported Wednesday that Harbaugh, who previously said he would not retire because of health issues, said he will undergo a cardiac ablation and hip replacement surgery this offseason.

The hip surgery will address his significant limp that is apparent when walking.

As for the cardiac ablation, it comes after he temporarily left his team's Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos because of an atrial flutter. Rhim explained the atrial flutter is an arrhythmia that leads to the heart beating abnormally high.

Harbaugh was treated by paramedics in the locker room but returned to coach the rest of the game. He also wore a heart monitor for two weeks during the 2024 campaign.

Rhim noted it was his first flare up since the 2012 season when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers and felt an irregular heartbeat during a game against the Chicago Bears.

This comes after Los Angeles saw its season come to an end with a 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round on Saturday.

Despite the playoff loss, it was still a successful first season for Harbaugh as the head coach. The Chargers' 11 wins were their most since the 2018 campaign, and they also made the playoffs for just the second time since that season.

Jim Harbaugh's makeover of the Los Angeles Chargers was both swift and successful. Before his hire, the team went 5-12 in the 2023 season, leading to the midseason firing of Brandon Staley.

But this year the Chargers were 11-6 and reached the postseason. While their playoff hopes ended in disappointing fashion on Saturday against the Houston Texans, there's no doubt that Harbaugh has steered the ship in a positive direction.

"They need to build out their defense to be more athletic, and the same is true with the receivers," an NFL executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "This season was a testament to Harbaugh's vision, his leadership and the identity he brings to them. They have not had that for a long time. They tasted success and will spend the money. I think they have a clearer path than they had previously."

More good news for the Chargers as they head into the offseason—the team is scheduled to have around $77.9 million in cap space ahead of the 2025 campaign, per Spotrac, the fourth most in the NFL. That could give them the wiggle room to offer a top free agent like wide receiver Tee Higgins a major deal, making Justin Herbert's life easier in the process.

The future appears to be bright under Harbaugh, who has had success at every stop in his coaching career. But an aggressive approach to the offseason would bolster the rebuild.

For all of the criticism he received during his first five years with the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Mike McCarthy might've been a bit of a bargain.

ESPN's Todd Archer reported McCarthy's contract averaged $8 million a year.

Whereas every fan knows what NFL players earn, there isn't as much transparency with coach salaries. Based on the available data, $8 million would put McCarthy in the middle of the pack.

Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen reported in October that at least 10 head coaches were getting $9 million or more annually. The Los Angeles Chargers are paying Jim Harbaugh twice as much ($16 million) as the Cowboys did with McCarthy, and even Seattle Seahawks first-year head coach Mike Macdonald managed to land a deal worth $9 million a year, per Badenhausen.

Archer questioned whether McCarthy would be able to get a raise on his next contract, be it with the Cowboys or another team, after Dallas' 7-10 finish. But this is a coach with a .608 career winning percentage and a Super Bowl title on his résumé.

When Sean Payton is collecting $18 million annually from the Denver Broncos, then McCarthy and his agent could reasonably demand a contract averaging somewhere in the eight figures.

And Macdonald's salary from the Seahawks points to how the Cowboys may not ultimately save much money if they choose to move on from McCarthy. Hiring a highly rated assistant coach or somebody with NFL head coaching experience is bound to be expensive.

Archer noted team owner Jerry Jones has spoken in favor of incentive-based contracts for his coaches. The Cowboys insider explained Jones might be "looking for a way to reset the coach's market with the structure of the deal" for his next coach.

That kind of negotiating approach risks turning off some candidates, though, since they might get more guaranteed money elsewhere. Failing to seal the deal with a top target would further anger a fanbase that's already frustrated by seeing some recent former assistants excel after leaving Dallas.

Jones already has to push back against the idea the organization doesn't spend enough money on the roster. The general perception about his frugality will only grow if it looks like he's lowballing McCarthy or prospective replacements.

After the Los Angeles Chargers' devastating 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, linebacker Khalil Mack is considering retirement after an 11-year NFL career.

"Man, it's a lot of different thoughts in my head right now," Mack told reporters after the loss. "I can't really speak on a definitive decision in terms of what I'm going to do because I don't know if I'm going to play football moving forward, so there's some things I gotta talk through with my wife, spend some time with my kids and try not to make a rash decision after a loss."

Mack has played for two other teams in addition to the Chargers: the Chicago Bears and the then-Oakland Raiders.

Mack recorded 20 solo tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles during the 2024-25 season, helping the Chargers to an 11-6 record.

The Chargers' postseason appearance began with high expectations but ended in disappointment as they suffered a staggering loss to the Texans, being outscored 22-6 in the second half—a blow that hit Mack especially hard.

"I can't make this situation about myself, man, even though selfishly you feel like, 'Damn,' you know what I'm saying? 'This was the one,'" Mack said.

The 2016 Defensive Player of the Year has lost all five of his playoff appearances, making the decision to return even more challenging. Mack has expressed a desire to achieve team success in Year 12, but he plans to consult with his family, including his two young sons, aged two and three, whose needs may take precedence, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.

Mack has not set a timeline for his decision, per Rhim, but believes his best chance at achieving team success is with the Chargers.

"As long as Justin Herbert is your quarterback. You got Derwin James and all these guys that love the game of football and Jim Harbaugh coaching?" Mack told reporters. "You know you always have a chance to win. Yeah, that's a no-brainer."

James is fully supportive of Mack's return, hoping he can make one more playoff run with the team at 33 years old.

"I told him we want him back, we need him back, " James said.

Following the Los Angeles Chargers' devastating 32-12 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday, quarterback Justin Herbert expressed his "complete trust" in head coach Jim Harbaugh.

"I think they've done good job, they're definitely on the right track going forward and it didn't show today and that's the horrible thing about football and everyone feels terrible. No one feels worse than I do," Herbert told reporters postgame (10:54 mark). "We have complete trust in coach Harbaugh and he's going to get the team right."

The Chargers' season ended in disappointment as they were dominated in the second half of Saturday's game, being outscored 22-6. Herbert and the offense struggled, with the quarterback throwing four interceptions and one touchdown while being sacked four times. Herbert threw only three interceptions throughout the entire regular season.

Harbaugh took responsibility for the loss, acknowledging that he didn't provide his offense and Herbert with the necessary support to succeed.

"Not being the better team today, I'm accountable for that. So that's on me," Harbaugh told reporters. "He's got to be able to finish a throwing motion. Quarterback's gotta be able to do that. And we didn't put him in the position to do that enough."

In his first season with the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh turned the 5-12 team he inherited into an 11-6 squad that secured a postseason appearance, solidifying the trust of his team heading into the offseason.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh took the blame Saturday for his team's 32-12 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans.

Justin Herbert, who threw three total interceptions during the regular season, was picked off four times as the Chargers were eliminated.

"Not being the better team today, I'm accountable for that. So that's on me," Harbaugh said in his postgame press conference.

When asked about Herbert's interceptions, Harbaugh answered: "Again, on me."

"He's got to be able to finish a throwing motion," Harbaugh said. "Quarterback's gotta be able to do that. And we didn't put him in the position to do that enough."

The Texans put Saturday's game out of reach when Herbert threw a pick-six late in the third quarter. Houston safety Eric Murray returned the errant pass 38 yards for a touchdown.

The Chargers took an early six-point lead, then looked to pull ahead further when Deane Leonard picked off a C.J. Stroud pass and got the ball back in the Chargers' hands on the Houston 40-yard line.

On the following play, Herbert came short of Quentin Johnston on a deep pass that ended up giving the ball right back to the Texans.

"We weren't really on the right hash to call it," Harbaugh said about the play. "Again, I take accountability for that one."

Herbert finished the game having gone 14-of-32 for 242 yards and one touchdown in the first four-interception outing of his career.

He was sacked four times while getting pressured on half of his dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats. The quarterback finished out the game with a passer rating of 40.9 and a QBR of 13.0,

Per Sheil Kapadia of the Ringer, Herbert's EPA per pass play ranked 213 out of 214 quarterbacks over the last 10 NFL playoffs.

"The edge pressure, those are really the best we've seen," Harbaugh said about the Texans' defense. "The pressure on the edge, the pass rush, was outstanding."

The Chargers were also held to 50 rushing yards in the loss, the team's second-lowest total of the 2024 season.

"They were doing a tremendous job knocking back at the line of scrimmage and tackling," Harbaugh said. "They were very effective stopping the run. It was a very effective run wall by them."

Harbaugh concluded: "One thing I can promise you is, the sun will come up tomorrow, and we'll be attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."

The Chargers last won a divisional round game when the franchise was in San Diego in 2007. Harbaugh and Herbert will hope to get another shot at snapping that drought next year.