The only name that Chargers fans are concerned with during the team's head coaching search is Jim Harbaugh. Ironically enough, Harbaugh is not one of the coaches whom the Chargers have requested to interview as he is still celebrating the Michigan Wolverines' National Championship.
Harbaugh is obviously the best-case scenario hire for the Chargers and on paper, the Bolts look like the perfect team for Harbaugh to return to the NFL for. Los Angeles has the only job opening with a franchise quarterback and despite the salary-cap concerns, there are a lot of strong building blocks on the team.
The Chargers are not the only team in the running for Harbaugh, though. The Las Vegas Raiders have also been heavily tied to Harbaugh and might be on the cusp of hiring a GM with ties to Harbaugh in Ed Dodds. As of right now, Harbaugh's realistic possibilities seem to be the Chargers, Raiders and returning to Michigan.
There is only one problem for the Raiders. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels halfway through the 2023 season and won over the full support of the lockerroom. Davante Adams has already expressed his desire for Pierce to get the head coaching job and now the face of the franchise, Maxx Crosby, has joined in.
Maxx Crosby weighs in and from what I’m told is drawing a line in the sand regarding the #Raiders next coach. The 3-time Pro Bowler wants Antonio Pierce. https://t.co/iCIATrJokk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2024
Crosby isn't just showing support for Pierce. As Ian Rapoport puts it above, he is drawing the line in the sand. If that was not a definitive message to the Raiders then I don't know what is.
Raiders stars may push Jim Harbaugh to coach the Chargers
The Chargers already look like the better destination for Harbaugh on paper but this only pushes it over the edge. Harbaugh should have no desire to pass on the Chargers job so he can coach a team without a franchise quarterback in a locker room that may not want to play for him from day one.
This does not mean that Harbaugh is a guarantee to coach the Chargers next season as his return to Michigan is absolutely in the realm of possibility. But all of the reports that tie Harbaugh to the Raiders might not even matter.
Vegas definitely should be interested in Harbaugh and it would not be surprising if he is Mark Davis' No. 1 choice to hire. But at the end of the day, the players can swing this entire process regardless of what Davis wants.
And that makes the Chargers the big winners in the long run. If Harbaugh ends up in LA then Chargers fans can directly thank Pierce and the Raiders.