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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh reportedly set to meet with Los Angeles Chargers next week

Let the Jim Harbaugh to the NFL news stories begin.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is set to meet with the Los Angeles Chargers next week and is also drawing interest from the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL.com.

Saturday morning's report also says Harbaugh has told associates "there's a real possibility" he could leave Michigan for the Chargers job.

Harbaugh told the Free Press on Friday his new agent, Don Yee, was "working hard." The NFL.com report also says the school continues its negotiations in an effort to sign Harbaugh to a contract extension.

Harbaugh and the Wolverines spent Saturday afternoon in frigid temperatures celebrating their national championship win over Washington with a parade set to go through downtown Ann Arbor and finish at the Crisler Center.

THE BEST: Celebrate Michigan's national championship with Detroit Free Press books and front pages!

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates during the trophy presentation after the 34-13 win over Washington at the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates during the trophy presentation after the 34-13 win over Washington at the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

Harbaugh has turned the Wolverines into the cream of the crop in college football. Michigan is 40-3 over the past three seasons, with three Big Ten titles, three College Football Playoff appearances and now a national title and perfect 15-0 season this season.

This is the third straight offseason where there have been strong rumblings about Harbaugh looking toward the NFL, including flying to Minnesota two seasons ago for an interview with the Vikings and flirting with other jobs during the 2023 offseason.

The rumblings have reached a fever pitch with Harbaugh achieving the ultimate goal at the college level and already being a proven winner in the NFL.

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Harbaugh has a long history on the west coast. He spent four seasons coaching the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, making the Super Bowl in his second year and finishing with a 44-19-1 record in the regular season and 5-3 mark in the playoffs. He was the Raiders' quarterbacks coach in 2002-03, which included a Super Bowl appearance.

Harbaugh started his head coaching career at San Diego in 2004, going 29-6 in three years with the Toreros before jumping to Stanford for four years.

Michigan and Harbaugh have also come under heat in the past year from the NCAA for multiple transgressions: violating a COVID-19 recruiting dead period, misleading NCAA investigators and an illegal sign-stealing scheme. Harbaugh was suspended for six of Michigan's 15 wins in the 2023 season, and could face more punishment in 2024 for those violations.

With the Chargers, unlike many of the other current open NFL coaching gigs, Harbaugh would have a franchise quarterback in 25-year-old Justin Herbert, making it an appealing job on the surface. The Chargers finished a very disappointing 5-12 this season and have salary cap issues, but do have a talented roster.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jim Harbaugh reportedly to interview with Los Angeles Chargers soon