Jim Harbaugh Reportedly Not Expected to Face NFL Discipline After Michigan Sanctions

The punishments handed down to former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh by the NCAA on Friday aren't expected to impact him in his current job with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to the Washington Post's Mark Maske.

The NCAA finally issued its sanctions toward the Michigan football program following investigations into sign-stealing recruiting violations. Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause order.

Midway through the 2023 season, which proved to be his last with the Wolverines, the coach accepted a three-game suspension that resulted from the sign-stealing scandal. He returned to the sidelines in time to guide Michigan to a national championship.

Once he accepted the Chargers job in 2024, most recognized how Harbaugh was out of the NCAA's reach.

Maske reported in 2023 the NFL might choose to honor any suspension issued by the NCAA. That's what the league did with former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in 2011 when he was banned for five games, a decision that came before he had moved on to the pros.

A show-cause order, however, is unlikely to have much of an impact on Harbaugh at this point in his career because it's tough to envision him ever coaching in college again.

Toward the end of his tenure in Ann Arbor, it became apparent the 61-year-old coveted a return to the NFL coaching ranks. In February 2022, he interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings on national signing day.

Winning the title in 2024 catapulted Harbaugh back into the league, and the Chargers will be more than happy with the returns so far. They went 11-6 and reached the playoffs last year.

Even if things take a dramatic turn — the San Francisco 49ers moved on from Harbaugh two years after he took them to the Super Bowl — his college days are in all likelihood over, regardless of whether his show-cause order is in effect.