Chargers formally introduce Jim Harbaugh, who declares goal of 'multiple championships'

The Spanos family has “invested their trust, their money and their credibility” in new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, giving him a deal that has been reported to be for five years at $16M per year, according to Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. It is a “make-or-break move for owners who seemed content to run the team as a plaything” and whose previous three coaches had “no NFL experience on their respective resumés.” Elliott wrote but with Harbaugh, they “got serious.” Harbaugh “had the guts to speak Thursday about coming in humble and hungry,” but with the “firm goal of winning ‘multiple, multiple championships.’” That is “music to the ears of fans long frustrated by the Spanos family’s short-sighted ambitions, fans who often are drowned out in their stadium by fans supporting whoever the Chargers are playing that week.” Chargers President of Football Operations John Spanos said, “We talked internally about really being willing to reimagine how we do things. That doesn’t mean just doing things differently for the sake of change, but really being willing to explore all options, all possibilities, and gaining an understanding of what it’s going to take to get to the next level.” Harbaugh’s comments and responses to questions Thursday “sometimes sounded like the kind of rah-rah clichés that work better at the college level than with older, experienced pros.” But he “let some of his personality peek through.” He “sometimes was charmingly folksy” and “made no secret of his big ambitions.” But he knows he "has got a big rebuilding job to do” (L.A. TIMES, 2/1). In California, Jim Alexander wrote give owner Dean Spanos and his son John credit in this case, as they “didn’t go the safe, economical route by giving an assistant his first head coaching job” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/1).

 

IN LOCK STEP: In L.A., Dylan Hernández wrote Harbaugh “offered an entirely different portrayal of the family that owns the team.” He “spoke of owner Dean Spanos’ hunger for victory.” Harbaugh knows that to win with the Chargers, his owners “will have to keep their checkbooks open.” The team has already invested $16M a year in Harbaugh, but “will have to spend millions more for him to have the caliber of coaching staff and analytics department he envisions.” Dean “sounded as if he was on board” (L.A. TIMES, 2/1). In Detroit, Rainer Sabin wrote John Spanos “was intrigued by Harbaugh's ability to resuscitate fallen football teams.” He “restored Stanford” and “rebuilt the 49ers.” Then, at Michigan, he “restored his alma mater's program multiple times.” John Spanos: "You look at his body of work, everything he exudes, his passion and competitiveness. Everything ... sums up why I think he is the right guy for us” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/1).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: In California, Elliott Teaford wrote the Chargers could have held Harbaugh’s introductory press conference at their temporary headquarters in Costa Mesa or at their "still-to-be-completed facility" in El Segundo, but “they went big, determining it was important to put Harbaugh in front of bright lights and cameras and reporters and his new employers” at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood. The conference “was short on specifics” and “long on the sort of rah-rah, let’s-get-after-it cliches you might have expected to hear at a corporate sales retreat.” Teaford noted it "was more like a political rally, with homespun tales and midwestern charm.” Specific questions “largely went unanswered beyond a string of platitudes that might have enthralled a gathering of alumni and boosters at the University of Michigan.” The presser had some reporters “rolling their eyes as the afternoon wore on” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/1).

NEW TEAM, SAME JIM: SI’s Gilberto Manzano wrote Harbaugh’s “fiery side briefly appeared Thursday.” Manzano: “I was waiting for that side to arrive because 60 minutes of being chummy with local reporters is not what I remember from his four seasons as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach.” Harbaugh “was a bit snippy” when a reporter asked about the power structure with the Chargers, while also “reminding him of his well documented disagreements with 49ers brass.” But Harbaugh “was on his A-game when it came to winning the news conference.” He “shared all his popular sayings during his reintroduction to NFL media.” Manzano: “He’s still the same guy from his 49ers days” (SI, 2/1).