Jim Harbaugh Year 1 turnarounds: How Chargers coach has fared in first seasons with Michigan, 49ers, more

Jim Harbaugh was drafted with the 26th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, spending time with the Bears, Colts, Ravens, and Chargers. Overall, Harbaugh had a 15-year playing career, highlighted by a Pro Bowl season and AFC Championship game appearance with San Diego in 1995.

However, Harbaugh's true destiny was coaching. Not only would he be following in his dad Jack's footsteps, but Jim had already been serving as an NCAA-certified unpaid assistant coach for Jack at Western Kentucky for the final eight years of his career. 

Harbaugh likely could have joined the staff at WKU, but instead, he spent two years as the quarterbacks coach for the then-Oakland Raiders. He got his first head coaching gig in 2004 and hasn't looked back.

With Harbaugh returning to the NFL at the helm of the Los Angeles Chargers this year, let's take a look at how he has fared in his first year at all of his coaching stops. 

NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule

Jim Harbaugh coaching timeline

• San Diego (2004-2006)
• Stanford (2007-2010)
• San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014)
• Michigan (2015-2023)
• Los Angeles Chargers (2024-present)

Harbaugh got his first head coaching gig at San Diego. Not to be confused with the old Chargers team or even San Diego State, this is the University of San Diego. Harbaugh was with the Toreros for three seasons, then took the same job with the Stanford Cardinal.

After four seasons, Harbaugh made the jump to the NFL, taking over as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Despite only being with the team for four years, he led the Niners to a Super Bowl in 2012, facing off against his brother John. 

Harbaugh then had the chance to coach the Michigan Wolverines, where he played his college ball. He took the job in 2015 and held it for nine seasons. Harbaugh, despite off-field controversies, led the Wolverines to an undefeated national championship in 2023. He went out on top and returned to the NFL in 2024, this time as the head coach of the Chargers. 

Jim Harbaugh Year 1 turnarounds

How many seasons do you give a new head coach to turn around a program? In college, new coaches tend to get three or four years so that they can recruit and get their players in. NFL coaches aren't as lucky. There has been a push from franchises that they expect to see measurable improvements from Year 1. 

San Diego

When Harbaugh took over, the Toreros had gone 8-2 in 2003. During his first season, they finished 7-4, ending the season winning five in a row. 

Stanford

The Cardinal were in rough shape when Harbaugh took over. Stanford had just gone 1-11 overall and 1-8 in conference play under Walt Harris. Harbaugh got Stanford to a 4-8 record in year one. Each year he was there, the Cardinal won more games than the previous season. 

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco went 6-10 in the final year under Mike Singletary. The Niners bought in early under Harbaugh. They finished 13-3 and won the NFC West for the first time since 2002. 

Michigan

Harbaugh took over at Michigan in 2015, replacing Brady Hoke. The Wolverines went 5-7 (3-5) in Hoke's final season, but rebounded quickly. Harbaugh led Michigan to a 10-3 overall record and a 6-2 record in the Big Ten. The Wolverines won the 2016 Citrus Bowl with a blowout win over Florida.