The Los Angeles Chargers declined to spend big money on Sean Payton last offseason. This time around, they spent big money on a different head coach — Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh and the Chargers reached a deal last week to make him their next head coach, replacing Brandon Staley.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Chargers will be paying Harbaugh $16M per year on a five-year deal. That would put the entire value of the deal at $80M if it’s all guaranteed.
Now we know there are two good reasons Harbaugh left Michigan for the NFL: the chance to win a Lombardi Trophy, and the money. The Wolverines were offering Harbaugh a raise, but they couldn’t compete with this type of money.
Harbaugh had flirted with NFL teams over the last few years, but he sure picked the right time to leave. He led Michigan to a national championship and achieved the ultimate goal for his alma mater. The undefeated season caused his stock to soar and ultimately led him to get this deal.
For the constantly underachieving Chargers, this deal is worth it. They need a coach who will come in, take over, and not accept anything less than toughness, hard work, and winning. They will soon be rewarded with much-improved results on the field.
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