Jim Harbaugh: I Got One Right For A Change!!!

For one of the rare times, I got a prediction right.

As I predicted back in the summer, Jim Harbaugh (seen above) is leaving Michigan and headed back to the National Football League's Los Angeles Chargers.

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Here are the reasons why I thought he'd go back to the NFL for the 2024 season:

THE ISSUES WITH THE NCAA

Harbs doesn't want to deal with the allegations and possible penalties over the sign-stealing controversy and the illegal recruiting allegations during the COVID-19 dead period.

What do college coaches do when they face possible NCAA sanctions?  They leave town and blame others.  Don't believe me?  See Pete Carroll, John Calipari, and if you want to go old school...Larry Brown.

HE'S DONE ALL HE CAN DO AT MICHIGAN

It took longer than it should have, but Harbaugh brought Michigan back to the top of college football.

After early struggles, as well as the 2-4 COVID-19 year of 2020, the Wolverines finally realized their potential and won the national championship in 2023.  Not to mention the three straight trips to the College Football Playoff and the three straight Big Ten titles.

You can't do any better than that at the college level.  Harbaugh knows that.

THERE'S STILL A CARROT OUT THERE FOR HIM

And that's a Super Bowl title that his brother, John, already has (and is going for another).

He got close with the San Francisco 49ers 11 years ago.  But his Niners lost to the Baltimore Ravens (and brother John) in Super Bowl XLVII (47), 34-31.  You know that still sticks with Jim.

If Jim is successful with the LA Chargers, he'll join a select list of coaches to win a national title in college and a Super Bowl in the pros.  Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, and Pete Carroll are the other ones.  That has to be in the back of his mind, too.

AT THIS POINT, THE NEGATIVES OUTWEIGHT THE POSITIVES

He doesn't have to recruit anymore.  He doesn't have to deal with the NCAA anymore.  And he doesn't have deal with the day-to-day hassles that come with college coaching.  All you have to do in the pros is COACH YOUR TEAM.  In some respects, it's easier to coach in the pros that in college nowadays.

For all the predictions I've gotten wrong over the years (too many to mention), I was due to get one right.  And I just had a feeling that, no matter what happened in 2023, Jim Harbaugh was going to the NFL in 2024.

Good luck with the Chargers, Harbs!  You'll need it.