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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh says he left Michigan after nine seasons to pursue his goal of coaching football at “the highest level.”
“This is the highest level. I wanna see if I measure up, if I can come into this tremendous organization and add value,” Harbaugh said Tuesday on the Dan Patrick Show (1:30 mark.)
Harbaugh continued: “I love the challenge. And this league, as you know, you’ve heard a million people say it, it’s really hard to get a win, and it’s really special to win a championship. I haven’t done it.”
Harbaugh previously coached the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons between 2011 and 2014, leading the Niners to a Super Bowl loss against the Baltimore Ravens in New Orleans in 2012.
He compared his feelings about returning to the NFL this season to to Burt Lancaster’s role as Dr. “Moonlight” Graham in Field of Dreams.
“When Burt Lancaster, he’s talking about his playing days, and he walked off that field thinking there would be other days, but there were no other days,” Harbaugh said. “I walked off that Super Bowl field in New Orleans thinking there would be another day, there’ll be another day. You don’t know if there is going to be another day.
“So to have that opportunity, to be back in position… I’m sure going to attack it with an enthusiasm known to mankind.”
When asked by Patrick, Harbaugh denied that the rising popularity of NIL deals and the future of revenue sharing with athletes influenced his decision to leave the NCAA.
“I always looked at that as real positive change that needed to be made,” Harbaugh.
The Chargers won Harbaugh’s Los Angeles debut thanks to a 16-point second half in a season-opening 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The team will return to action on Sunday with a road game against the Carolina Panthers.
