Jim Harbaugh seemingly hit the jackpot when he took his talents to the NFL.
The former Michigan football coach, who accepted the job with the Chargers after leading Michigan to a national championship, was a key figure in two NCAA investigations into the program.
The first is alleged recruiting violations and the biggest one is for Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing operation headed by Connor Stalions.
Harbaugh has been suspended for a total of six games for those allegations. He had a self-imposed suspension by Michigan where he missed the first three games of the 2023 season and then the second one that was handed down by the Big Ten and commissioner Tony Pettiti where he missed the final three games of the regular season.
Despite the NCAA no longer being able to suspend him due to his move to the NFL, he is now out of harm’s way.
NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport previously stated last year that the NFL is “unlikely to make itself a safe harbor for Harbaugh to escape what could be substantial NCAA discipline.”
Former Ohio State Terrell Pryor was facing a five-game suspension for trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos when he declared for the NFL supplemental draft. Even though he thought he got out of a punishment, Roger Goodell upheld the five-game suspension, saying in a then-statement: “This smacks of a calculated effort to manipulate our eligibility rules.”
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Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, who also caught a five-game suspension had taken a job with the Colts to avoid punishment, was said he couldn’t work with the team until Week 7 of the 2011 season.
Harbaugh could not only catch a suspension but the entire 2023 season could be eradicated if the findings of the sign-stealing scandal are truly terrible.
