Junfu Han-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Insiders Reveal Los Angeles Chargers Paid Staggering Contract Amount for Jim Harbaugh

Originally posted on LAFB Network | By Andrew Buller-Russ | Last updated 1/31/24

When the Los Angeles Chargers moved on from Brandon Staley as head coach, Jim Harbaugh emerged as one of the top candidates to take over. But everyone knew there would always be challenges involved with chasing the former Michigan Wolverines head coach. We didn’t know it at the time of Staley’s removal, but Harbaugh later went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, which likely only created more interest in the former San Francisco 49ers head coach.

With a total of eight NFL head coaching vacancies, Harbaugh was viewed as a near sure shot to get hired somewhere, as long as he wanted to leave Michigan. Yet, with so many other vacancies, this meant landing Harbaugh wouldn’t come easily. Yet, that didn’t stop the Chargers from getting who many viewed as one of, if not the top head coaching candidate available.

Chargers, Dean Spanos Break Bank to Hire Jim Harbaugh

Is Dean Spanos ‘cheap’ in comparison to other NFL team owners? Prior to hiring Jim Harbaugh, we heard plenty about how Spanos isn’t willing to spend enough to help the Chargers become consistent contenders.

Yet, after the Harbaugh signing, those reports about Spanos not being willing to spend top dollar may have to be reconsidered.

In hiring him away from Michigan, the Chargers are reportedly paying Harbaugh an average salary of $16 million per season. If true, this makes Harbaugh one of the NFL’s highest-paid head coaches today, and he’s not far behind first place.

Plus, this isn’t some short-term fix. Harbaugh reportedly signed a five-year contract worth roughly $80 million, meaning they want him in L.A. for several years to come.

While the Chargers have some cap issues to deal with, there are no such problems when it comes to assembling a coaching staff, as the NFL does not have any spending limits in place for head coaches and their assistants.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.

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