Who Is Sean Magee? Inside Michigan Wolverines’ Decision to Fire Their General Manager

What Did Sean Magee Accomplish During His Time At Michigan?

Magee first joined Michigan under Jim Harbaugh in 2017 and remained through 2021. He handled off-field oversight covering player personnel, football operations, and budget management. Michigan’s national championship roster in 2023 had his fingerprints on it from that first run.

He left for the Chicago Bears, serving as the team’s chief of staff during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Michigan brought him back in March 2024 as senior associate athletic director and general manager.

His biggest get in the second stint: Bryce Underwood. The No. 1 high school prospect in the 2025 class was headed to LSU before Magee worked with donors and the Champions Circle NIL collective to flip him.

Why Did Michigan Part Ways With Magee Now?

Whittingham wanted his own people. Simple as that. On3’s Pete Nakos first reported the move, and the Free Press later confirmed it on Feb. 17.

Three others from the same department exit alongside Magee. Director of player personnel Albert Karschnia, director of on-campus recruiting Kayli Johnson, and director of recruiting Sam Popper are all departing, per The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb.

Karschnia spent five seasons at Central Michigan before Michigan rehired him in 2021. Johnson ran on-campus recruiting for two years. Both were central figures in high school and college-level recruiting operations.

FAQ Related to Sean Magee and Michigan Football

Q1: Who confirmed Sean Magee’s departure from Michigan?

A: The Detroit Free Press confirmed the move on Feb. 17, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. On3’s Pete Nakos first reported it.

Q2: What made Sean Magee’s background different from most college football GMs?

A: Magee is a former Navy offensive lineman and Surface Warfare Officer who later became chief of staff for the Chicago Bears before moving into college football.

Q3: Who else left Michigan’s recruiting department alongside Magee?

A: Albert Karschnia, Kayli Johnson, and Sam Popper all departed. Karschnia handled player personnel, Johnson ran on-campus recruiting, and Popper served as director of recruiting.

Q4: Who is the frontrunner to replace Sean Magee at Michigan?

A: Per Maize n Brew, former Utah GM Robert Blechen is a logical candidate. He built Utah’s top recruiting class in 2023 and spent 12 years working under Whittingham.

Q5: How long was Sean Magee at Michigan total across both stints?

A: Seven years across two tenures. He worked under Harbaugh from 2017-2021, then returned under Moore in March 2024 before departing in February 2026.