As Michigan prepares for its matchup against Alabama in the College Football Playoff, Jim Harbaugh is being linked to potential NFL jobs.
In fact, BetOnline lists Harbaugh as the favorite to be named the Los Angeles Chargers’ next head coach following the in-season firing of Brandon Staley late last week.
At +200, the Wolverines head coach leads New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (+300), Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (+400), and current Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (+500) on the list of potential candidates. For the betting uninitiated, a successful $100 wager on Harbaugh would return a $200 profit, while a successful $100 bet on Belichick would net a $300 gain.
BetOnline’s full odds for the Chargers next head coach are as follows (via The Draft Network’s Jaime Eisner):
- Jim Harbaugh +200
- Bill Belichick +300
- Ben Johnson +400
- Kellen Moore +500
- Frank Smith +700
- Bobby Slowik +1200
- Eric Bieniemy +1200
- Lincoln Riley +1600
- Ryan Day +1600
- Dan Quinn +1800
- Brian Flores +2000
- Jerod Mayo +2000
- Brian Johnson +2500
- Raheem Morris +3300
At +200, Harbaugh isn’t necessarily expected to be named the Chargers’ next head coach, but the odds do suggest an implied 33.3 percent chance of him making the jump from Ann Arbor to Los Angeles in the offseason. As for why the former NFL quarterback would be willing to make the leap after winning his third consecutive Big Ten championship at his alma mater, it’s worth noting that he’s been connected to NFL jobs in each of the previous two offseasons and that the NCAA is continuing to investigate Michigan for its alleged sign-stealing scheme, which already resulted in a three-game suspension from the Big Ten.
While Harbaugh has also been linked to the Chicago Bears — who he played for 1987-1993 — he also played for the Chargers from 1999-2000, albeit when the franchise was located in San Diego. Nevertheless, Los Angeles figures to be one of the most attractive job openings this coming offseason thanks to the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.