Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh’s compelling rationale for departing Michigan to make a comeback in the NFL on a grand stage like the Super Bowl.

The Chargers have faced challenges since relocating to Los Angeles from San Diego in 2017, with only two postseason appearances and a lone playoff victory. In contrast to the successful Rams, who secured a Super Bowl win in 2022, the Chargers have been somewhat overlooked in LA. However, the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, fresh off a National Championship win with the Michigan Wolverines, signals a potential turnaround.

After coaching the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, Harbaugh returned to the NFL and California, drawn by the allure of the professional league. Despite his success at Michigan, Harbaugh expressed his love for the NFL and the absence of a Lombardi Trophy in college football, indicating his motivation to join the Chargers.

In a recent interview on the NFL on CBS set, Harbaugh discussed his decision to return to the NFL, stating, “I love Michigan, but I love the NFL too. There’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football.”

If Harbaugh manages to guide the Los Angeles Chargers to a Super Bowl victory, marking the franchise’s first, he would join an elite group of coaches who have achieved both a National Championship at the college level and a Super Bowl win. This exclusive club currently includes Jimmy Johnson (Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys), Barry Switzer (Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys), and Pete Carroll (USC Trojans and Seattle Seahawks).