CFB Insider Says Jim Harbaugh Will Get a 'Look' from Teams If Chargers Fire HC amid Struggles

Amid the Los Angeles Chargers' 0-3 start to the 2026 season, head coach Jim Harbaugh's job could be in jeopardy, but he reportedly has a fallback option if he hits the unemployment line.

Dan Wolken of Yahoo Sports spoke to an insider who revealed that Harbaugh could have the chance to return to college football if the Chargers part ways with him this season.

"If he gets fired and is available, somebody will look," the coaching search industry executive told Wolken. "It comes down to timing."

Harbaugh coached at Michigan from 2015 to 2023 and won a national championship in his final year with the team before jumping to the NFL to take the Chargers' head coaching position.

Despite his success with the Wolverines, his tenure ended controversially, as he faced multiple NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations and an illegal scouting scandal. He has a 10-year show-cause order that will run through August 2038, and if he were to accept another college football coaching job, he would be suspended for the first season of his return. Wolken noted that he would also be barred from communicating with his team during his suspension, as well as participating in any coaching activities "including but not limited to team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings."

While many would expect these penalties to hurt Habuagh's viability as a college football head coach, Wolken went on to explain that any college team that pursues him would likely overlook those infractions and find a way to work around them "either through litigation or a plan where an interim coach would be in charge for one year."

"He's a heck of a football coach," one power conference athletic director said of Harbaugh. "I'd certainly vet him."

For now, Harbaugh will be focused on trying to help the Chargers end their early-season skid. If things get worse and he hits the open market, the 62-year-old will have a lot of hurdles to clear before he's able to return to the collegiate ranks.