Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has pulled from the Michigan well plenty before while filling out his coaching staff.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, defensive line coach Mike Elston, newly promoted EDGE rushers coach Dylan Roney, defensive analyst Rick Minter, and executive director of player performance Ben Herbert made up a group of previous Michigan staff members that wound up making the move to Los Angeles with Harbaugh last year.
The connections obviously don't stop there with the draft capital used on former Wolverines like Junior Colson and Cornelius Johnson. But Harbaugh doesn't intend on leaving his Michigan connections in 2024.
Another former Harbaugh staffer from Michigan is set to rejoin him in Los Angeles. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, former Michigan offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell will join Harbaugh's staff as an offensive assistant.
Jim Harbaugh adds Michigan offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell to Chargers staff
Campbell played a role in the development of J.J. McCarthy in 2023, both contributing to Michigan's National Title success as well as McCarthy's rise in the draft. Minnesota selected McCarthy with the 10th pick in the draft last April.
Campbell was promoted to offensive coordinator after Sherrone Moore became Michigan's head coach. After the Wolverines had a fairly disappointing offensive season by their own expectations in 2024, Campbell was fired at the conclusion of the regular season on December 3rd.
Clearly, Harbaugh still sees him as a coach worth having on his LA staff. Campbell was with Michigan for three seasons prior to his firing.
Campbell had stops at Tiffin, West Virginia Wesleyan, Alderson Broaddus, Penn State, and Old Dominion before he was hired by Harbaugh as an offensive analyst in 2022.
Could Campbell play a role in the quarterback room following his development of McCarthy? Shane Day is still the team's QBs coach after being brought back by Harbaugh in his first season as head coach. While Campbell's role probably won't be too large on the staff in year one, perhaps we'll see an elevation on the staff in future seasons as the staff churns.
As mentioned earlier, Roney will reportedly be promoted to EDGE coach in another move. Former Chargers' safeties coach Chris O'Leary left the team earlier this offseason to become Western Michigan's defensive coordinator. Former FSU DC Adam Fuller was formally hired as his replacement.