Jim Harbaugh continues to maintain that he is completely innocent. The 60-year-old doubled (if not tripled or quadrupled) down on his hard stance that his hands are clean from any potential wrongdoing at the University of Michigan upon arrival back to The Mitten State on Thursday night.
Harbaugh, who accepted the head coaching job with the Chargers earlier this week, is back in Ann Arbor to address the Wolverines one last time. He will speak with his now-former players and staff before traveling south to Baltimore to support his older brother in the AFC Championship.
From there, Jim Harbaugh will hop on a jet to Los Angeles for the next chapter of his career on Monday.
His final address at Michigan comes after nine years with the program on the heels of a national championship. It is going to be emotional. However, he told the Detroit News that it is not going to be the end of their relationship.
I know how it’s going to be. It’s not goodbye.
One thing I hope for is that Michigan and the Chargers will be like one team. These are lasting, trusting relationships, so goodbye is not even a word that resonates.
— Jim Harbaugh, via The Detroit News
Although much of Harbaugh’s tenure with the Wolverines was a great success, the legitimacy of his winning ways came into question during the 2023/24 season. Not only was the head coach caught lying about (extremely minor and irrelevant) recruiting violations, his program was at the center of a massive sign-stealing scandal that involved former staffer Connor Stalions and he will leave two unresolved NCAA investigations behind.
Harbaugh stands by his truth. He continues to claim that he and his team are without fault.
I can account for myself, and I can account for the players that they were always innocent, and I was innocent. You walk strong and tall and innocent.
Didn’t mind the priceless motivation. Didn’t hurt.
— Jim Harbaugh, via The Detroit News
His comments also took aim at the outside narrative that he is only leaving to get out ahead of any potential sanctions. Harbaugh looks at the haters and points to his ring.
In the sixth grade, my English teacher introduced the concept of critical reading. This concept of believing everything you hear or everything you read […] it’s all good.
And you know what? The proof was in the pudding.
There is no villain. I’ve long thought this: When a coach leaves, the only way everybody’s happy is if that coach dies. They’re either mad at him for leaving, or he’s mad at them for firing him. Glad I’ve got a future. Glad I’m alive.
— Jim Harbaugh, via The Detroit News
Harbaugh returned back to Michigan on Thursday night and had nothing but great things to say about his players, assistant coaches, and the people of Ann Arbor. Gratitude was at the forefront.
As was his innocence!