Nine years ago, in 2016, Jim Harbaugh, then head coach at the University of Michigan, made a notable attempt to recruit high school running back Najee Harris. Harbaugh went to great lengths, including attending Harris’s high school game dressed in the school’s gear and even announcing the homecoming queen during the event. Despite these efforts, Harris chose to attend the University of Alabama, where he had a successful college career.
Fast forward to 2025, Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has finally secured Harris as his running back. After Harris’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was a first-round pick in 2021, he entered free agency in 2025. Harbaugh and the Chargers seized the opportunity, signing Harris to bolster their backfield.
This acquisition is particularly significant for Harbaugh, as it fulfills a long-standing pursuit of Harris, bringing their professional paths together after nearly a decade.