The University of Michigan was prepared to make Jim Harbaugh the highest-paid head coach in all of college football but, according to a report from NBC Sports, that still wasn’t enough to match the offer the Los Angeles Chargers used to lure Harbaugh away from the Wolverines. According to NBC’s Mike Florio, the Chargers are set to pay Harbaugh an annual salary of $16 million per year over the course of a five-year, $80 million contract in the head coach’s return to the NFL. According to multiple reports, Michigan offered Harbaugh a 10-year contract extension worth $125 million in an attempt to keep the head coach in Ann Arbor. Had the offer been signed, Harbaugh would have eclipsed Clemson’s Dabo Swinney contract of $115 million as the highest-paid coach in college football. Before his retirement, Alabama’s Nick Saban had been the previously highest-paid head coach, earning $11.5 million per year with the Crimson Tide. There were multiple factors that ultimately led to Harbaugh’s return to the NFL, including a desire to win football’s highest prize — a Super Bowl and the Lombardi Trophy. Michigan’s run-ins with the NCAA over minor recruiting violations, accusations of Harbaugh being dishonest with investigators and the Connor Stalions sign-steal scandal may have also played a factor. However, it’s clear by NBC Sports’ report that the L.A. Chargers were also willing to spend massive amounts of money to lure Harbaugh away from Michigan as well.
