Chargers Next Coach Odds: Jim Harbaugh Given 67% Chance to be Next Coach in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Chargers are in search of a new head coach after firing Brandon Staley a few weeks ago. Will the Chargers look to the college ranks to replace him and solve their offensive shortcomings? Jim Harbaugh leads the pack as the current favorite, so let's take a look at the latest odds and other candidates.
Peter Alexis - January 8, 2024, 11:10 AM EST
5 minChargers Next Coach Odds: Jim Harbaugh Given 67% Chance to be Next Coach in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Chargers dumped Brandon Staley in mid December after an embarrassing defeat, and are looking to start fresh with a big name coach to revitalize this franchise. Jim Harbaugh is currently leading the pack to take over, but has yet to make a decision on his future at Michigan.
The Chargers need a coach who can utilize Justin Herbert's talent and put him in position to be successful. They have been on the edge of playoff greatness several times, but have fallen short due to a combination of injuries and poor coaching. They also have one of the worst records in one-score games over the last few years. The ownership is looking for a game-tested and experienced coach who can win the big ones and take them over the edge.
Can the Chargers persuade Harbaugh to leave Michigan and rejoin the NFL ranks? They will have to eclipse his offer from Michigan and entice him with their loaded roster, but the odds are currently in their favor. Let's take a look at the latest odds and explore the other candidates as the search heats up.
Chargers Next Coach Odds
Coach | Odds | Implied Probabilty |
|---|---|---|
Jim Harbaugh | -210 | 67.7% |
Giff Smith | +400 | 20% |
Ben Johnson | +500 | 16.7% |
Bill Belichick | +600 | 14.3% |
Mike Vrabel | +1000 | 9.1% |
Eric Bieniemy | +1100 | 8.3% |
Kellen Moore | +1400 | 6.7% |
Jim Harbaugh -210
After one of the most controversial years in the history of college football coaching, Jim Harbaugh may be on the move back to the NFL. The Michigan head coach has extensive experience at the highest level, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013, where he fell short to his older brother, John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh was already suspended for roughly half of the season at various times, and is currently under investigation by the NCAA for several rules violations. He may decide to exit and return to the league, similar to when Pete Carroll was hit with investigations at USC and bounced to the Seattle Seahawks.
Will Harbaugh make the jump to the NFL? Only time will tell, but we may have answers sooner rather than later. He has a massive extension sitting on his desk from Michigan, but has elected not to sign it yet among looming sanctions and a cloudy future. He will compete for the National Championship on Monday night, and many believe he is going to head out whether he wins or loses.
The Chargers and Raiders appear to be the top landing spots for Harbaugh if he makes that decision, and he leads the pack in Los Angeles with favorable -210 odds. A lot will change in this market over the next few weeks, stemming from his decision to leave, as well as where the other coaching domino's fall. If potential candidates like Bill Belichick and Ben Johnson sign elsewhere, Harbaugh's chances will only increase. But the pursuit by Mark Davis and the Raiders will also affect these odds as well.
Giff Smith +400
The interim head coach of the Chargers could a potential candidate to stay on as head coach, and has the support of his players. The Chargers have had a weak end to the season, losing their last five games following Justin Herbert's season-ending injury. Brandon Staley was fired after the blowout loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, and Giff Smith took over for the final three games.
While they put up a fight in each, all were one-possession losses and Smith was unable to get in the win column. There is often a chance for the interim coach to stay on after a mid season firing, and although he will be considered for the job, it is unlikely that Smith will be selected in the end.
Smith has +400 odds to win the job, giving him a 20% chance to compete for it, but it may be a longer shot than that. The Chargers need a big name coach to restore momentum and energy to the franchise, and they will be looking to land one in the next few weeks. If they can't get that done, Smith will be available as more of a fallback option.
Bill Belichick +600
After an unprecedentedly difficult year in New England, famed coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots may be parting ways at the end of the season. The Patriots completed a horrendous 4-13 campaign with a 17-3 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, snapping a 15-game win streak over their division rival.
The rumor mill is swirling with reports that Belichick is on the way out, and there will be a plethora of interested teams if this is indeed the end of the dynasty. Belichick led the Pats to six Super Bowls over 24 years at the helm, but the euphoria appears to be over in Foxborough.
Belichick has decent odds in this spot, but is also linked to the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons jobs as well. At this stage in his career, Belichick will be looking to move to a team with a pre-built roster that he can turn into a winner, and fast. The 71-year-old is nearing the end of his reign atop the NFL and would like to see one final resurgence, similar to what Tom Brady experienced with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Belichick would likely find rapid success with star quarterback Justin Herbert, and could give this struggling franchise the breakthrough it has been searching for over the past three years. It may all be speculation as several chains of events need to unfold for these moves to be made on both sides, but there is certainly momentum building towards Belichick coaching somewhere else next season. What once seemed like a massive leap is now trending towards strongly possible, and more clarity will emerge after the Patriots decide on his future.
NFL Odds
