James "Jim" Joseph Harbaugh is a former American quarterback and a football head coach for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He agreed to a five-year deal in January 2024 to take over as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Previously, he was the head coach of the University of San Diego from 2004-2006, Stanford University from 2007-2010, the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014, and the University of Michigan from 2015-2023. With the latter, the team won three straight Big Ten Conference championships, including playoffs in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Wolverines won their first undisputed national championship since 1948 and their first since 1997.

Harbaugh was selected by the Chicago Bears as the overall 26th pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a quarterback, including tenure with the Ravens, Colts Chargers, and Bears. Further, he was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1995, played in the AFC Championship Game with the Indianapolis Colts, and was chosen for the Pro Bowl the very same year. Together with his elder brother, coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens, he made NFL history as the first head coach brother duo, as he was then with the San Francisco 49ers. Their father, Jack, was also a football player and coach.

Jim Harbaugh's Personal Information

Jim Harbaugh's Early Life, Personal Life, and Family Background

Jim Harbaugh was born in Toledo, Ohio, on December 23, 1963 to Jack and Jacqueline M. "Jackie" Harbaugh. His father is of Irish and German descent, while his mother is half Polish and half Sicilian. He was raised with his brother John, and the family travelled around a lot, as his father took assistant coaching jobs at different universities throughout the country. He lived in Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Stanford, and other locations. Thus, he had to transfer between numerous high schools, before graduating from Palo Alto High School in California in 1982.

After graduating, he enrolled at the University of Michigan. Even though he had a bit of a rocky start, he concluded his collegiate career with 5,449 passing yards, which is a franchise record. Further, he recorded 620 passing attempts (second in Michigan history at the time), 387 completions, a 62.4% completion rate, 31 touchdown passes (third at the time), and 22 interceptions. For 12 years, he was the NCAA Division I-A passing efficiency record holder with a career average of 149.6. In 1986, Harbaugh graduated from Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts with a B.A. in communications.

Jim has seven children, two sons and a daughter from his first marriage with Miah Harbaugh, and two sons and two daughters from his second marriage with Sarah Feuerborn. He is a Roman Catholic who has worked in Piura, Peru, doing charitable work.

Jim Harbaugh’s Net Worth & Career Earnings

As of October 2024, Jim Harbaugh’s net worth is estimated to be $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Jim Harbaugh House

Jim Harbaugh resides in his Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a condominium which he purchased in 2015 for $2.6 million, as per Virtual Globetrotting. He spent $6.3 million buying a house in Atherton, California, in 2012. In August 2021, he put this house up for sale for $12.98 million. He sold this house in April 2022 for $11.8 million.

Celebrity Net Worth reported that in 2018, Jim rented out his Coronado house in California. Depending on the season, rental costs might range from $15,000 to $35,000 per month. This house, which is close to San Diego Bay, was officially bought by the Sarah Harbaugh Revocable Trust for around $4 million. There are six bedrooms and 4,650 square feet of living space in the house. The home is close to the beach and has breathtaking views of the ocean from its rooftop decks and balconies, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Jim Harbaugh Contract & Salary

ProFootballTalk reported in January 2024 that Harbaugh is receiving $16 million a year, as per his five-year 2024 contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. After Sean Payton, who receives $18 million annually from the Broncos, Harbaugh is the second-highest paid coach in the NFL as a result.

Jim was the San Francisco 49ers' coach from 2011 to 2014. In 2011, he signed a $25 million, five-year contract to join the team. He was appointed head coach of the University of Michigan, his alma mater, in 2015. Jim then received an annual base pay of almost $7.5 million from Michigan under his contract, as per celebrity net worth.

Harbaugh received an average yearly base income of $550,000, in addition to $5 million in bonus pay and an extra $2 million in life insurance benefits. Additionally, the contract stated that after three years, he would be eligible for a 10% raise and another 10% raise after five years.

Jim was paid $45.4 million by the University of Michigan until 2020, yet he only managed a 1-4 bowl record during this time, leaving many observers confused. Of this $45.4 million, his salary accounted for $33.4 million and he also contributed $2 million a year straight into his life insurance policy. There are no tax penalties if he withdraws the cash from his life insurance policy at any time. Nevertheless, in the event of Harbaugh's passing, the University of Michigan is entitled to receive all of that money back.

Further, it was also disclosed that Jim had access to a private jet as part of his contract. The fine print says that this jet is only to be used for "recruiting purchases." Nevertheless, it gives him the flexibility to tour the country. He used the jet for at least 12 days in his first month at the University of Michigan, at a daily expense of $10,000. In other words, over the course of less than two weeks, he spent $120,000 on private jet travel, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Jim Harbaugh Coaching History

Jim Harbaugh's coaching career began with his father, Jack, at Western Kentucky University from 1994 to 2001, serving as an offensive consultant. After which, he moved to the Oakland Raiders in 2002–2003 as quarterbacks coach. In 2004, he became head coach for the San Diego Toreros, and from 2007 to 2010, he was named to be the head coach of the Stanford Cardinals.

The next five seasons, 2011-2014, he served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and in 2015, he agreed to a head coaching contract for his alma mater, the Michigan Wolverines. In June 2024, he signed another five-year contract to be head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Western Kentucky University (1994-2001)

Jim Harbaugh worked as his father Jack Harbaugh's unpaid, NCAA-certified assistant coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) throughout his final eight seasons in the NFL (1994–2001). He travelled to various states, including Florida, Indiana, and Illinois, to scout and recruit high school student-athletes while working as an offensive consultant. He recruited 17 players on WKU's 2002 Division I-AA national champion team.

Oakland Raiders (2002-2003)

Under Bill Callahan, Jim Harbaugh coached the Oakland Raiders' quarterbacks in 2002 and 2003. Starting quarterback Rich Gannon, who led the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII, earned the 2002 AP NFL MVP award, and was chosen for the 2003 Pro Bowl following the 2002 season, was coached by Harbaugh while he was with the Raiders.

University of San Diego (2004-2006)

Jim Harbaugh was appointed head football coach at the University of San Diego prior to the 2004 season. He led the Toreros to a 7-4 overall record in his debut season, which included five victories in a row. The team finished 11-1 the next year and captured the Pioneer Football League title in 2005. Toreros finished 11-1 in 2006, winning the Pioneer League championship for the second time in a row.

Stanford University (2007-2010)

In December 2006, Harbaugh succeeded Walt Harris as Stanford University's head football coach. Stanford upset #1 rival USC 24–23 later in the 2007 season, due to a score in the final minute. It was statistically the biggest upset in college football history, with USC favoured by 41 points. Stanford finished 5–7 during the 2008 season. Harbaugh and the Stanford Cardinal defeated USC at home by a score of 55-21 in November 2009, regardless of Stanford's loss to USC in 2008.

The Cardinals concluded the 2009 regular season with an 8-4 record and earned an invitation for the 2009 Sun Bowl—the team's first bowl game since 2001. In the 2010 season, the team finished the regular season 11-1, with their lone defeat coming at the hands of Oregon, an unbeaten team that qualified for the BCS National Championship Game. Further, Harbaugh won the Woody Hayes Coach of the Year Award.

San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014)

In January 2011, Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, an NFL team that had missed the playoffs for eight years at the time. In his first three seasons in charge, the team made it to the NFC Championship game. The 49ers and Baltimore Ravens faced each other in Super Bowl XLVII at the conclusion of the 2012 season, as well as in a Thanksgiving Classic game in 2011. Even though the 49ers lost both, Harbaugh received the AP NFL Coach of the Year award at the end of the season. He was also awarded Coach of the Year by Sporting News and the PFWA.

After leading the 49ers to a 12-4 regular-season record and their third straight appearance to the playoffs and NFC Championship, Harbaugh's team lost to the Seattle Seahawks 23-17, who went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII. By doing this, Harbaugh made history by being the first NFL head coach to play in three consecutive conference championship games. The only season they failed to make the playoffs was 2014. But in just four years, Harbaugh became one of the most successful head coaches.

University of Michigan (2015-2023)

Jim Harbaugh was appointed head football coach at the University of Michigan in December 2014. Against Ohio State, he is the first head coach at Michigan to lose his first five games in charge. Following Michigan's victory over Ohio State in 2021, Harbaugh led the team to its first Big Ten title in 17 years. For the first time since 2000, Michigan defeated Ohio State away from home in 2022, and they won the Big Ten title again for the first time since 2004. Michigan won the national championship in 2023 under Harbaugh, defeating Washington 34–13.

Los Angeles Chargers (2024-present)

The Los Angeles Chargers hired Harbaugh as head coach in January 2024. In September 2024, upon his hiring, Harbaugh led the Chargers to a 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was Harbaugh's first NFL victory since December 2014.

Jim Harbaugh Playing Career

Chicago Bears (1987-1993)

Jim Harbaugh was drafted by the Chicago Bears as the overall 26th pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. As a quarterback, he achieved his career high with the Bears in the 1991 season, playing and starting 16 games, with a record of 11-5. He recorded 275 completed passes and 478 attempts for 3,121 passing yards and 16 interceptions, all being his career-high. He also recorded 15 touchdowns.

Harbaugh left the Bears with a 35–30 (.538) record. They finished 1993 with a 7-9 record, having participated in and started 15 games. The team completed 200 of 325 (61.5%) passes for 2,002 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In 60 carries, he gained 277 yards through rushes and was sacked 43 times for 210 yards.

Indianapolis Colts (1994-1997)

Harbaugh joined the Indianapolis Colts in April 1994. In his debut season, he played in 12 games, starting nine, with a record of 4–5. Next season was one of his most successful stints, since he led the league with 8.2 yards per passing attempt and the passer rating of 100.7. Further, he was also named for the 1995 Pro Bowl and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. In the same season, he also has his career-high of 17 touchdowns.

Harbaugh had a 2-9 record as a starter in 1997 in spite of passing for 2,060 yards, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions, and 189-for-309 (61.2%) passing in 12 games. For a career-high 256 yards lost, Harbaugh was sacked 41 times.

Baltimore Ravens (1998)

The Indianapolis Colts traded Harbaugh to the Baltimore Ravens in February 1998, in exchange for third- and fourth-round draft selections in the 1998 NFL Draft. In a 6-10 season for the Ravens in 1998, Harbaugh started 12 games and appeared in 14 games for the team. He finished with a 5–7 record, and had 164 completed passes and 293 attempts for 1,839 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

San Diego Chargers (1999-2000)

Jim Harbaugh played with the Chargers for two seasons. After Ryan Leaf suffered a season-ending injury during training camp, Harbaugh, who had been signed as his backup, played for most of 1999. Harbaugh started 12 of the 14 games he played in, finished with a 6-6 record, and completed 249 of 434 (57.4%) passes for 2,761 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. After finishing 8-8 in 1999, San Diego finished 1-15 in 2000. In seven games, five of which he started, Harbaugh completed 123 of 202 (60.9%) passes for 1,416 yards, eight touchdowns, and ten interceptions.

Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers (2001)

Prior to the 2001 campaign, Harbaugh signed with the Detroit Lions, where he was supposed to provide backup to longtime starter Charlie Batch. But the Lions cut him on the eve of the regular season and acquired Ty Detmer in exchange. In 2001, he dressed for six games but did not play for the Carolina Panthers, where he ended his NFL career.

Jim Harbaugh’s Achievements and Awards

Jim Harbaugh’s achievements, both as player and coach, are as follows:

Jim Harbaugh’s Parents

Jack and Jacqueline M. "Jackie" Cipiti are Jim's parents. The couple married in 1961 and have three children: John, Joani, and Jim. They settled in Mequon, Wisconsin, after Jack was hired by Marquette University in Milwaukee as an associate athletic director. Prior to retiring, Jack oversaw the football programs at Western Michigan University and Western Kentucky University.

From 1957 to 1960, Jack was a halfback at Bowling Green State University. In 1962, he started working as an assistant coach at Perrysburg High School. Between 1982 and 1986 at Western Michigan University and 1989 to 2002 at Western Kentucky University, Jack had a 116–95–3 career record as head coach in college football. He was named the 2002 AFCA Coach of the Year.

Jim Harbaugh’s Wife

Jim Harbaugh has been married to Sarah Feuerborn (now Harbaugh) since 2008, as per the People. The couple have four children together: sons John and Jack and daughters Addison and Katherine. They met in 2006 at P.F. Chang's restaurant. However, this was his second marriage, as he was married to Miah Harbaugh from 1996 to 2006. Together, Harbaugh and his ex-wife are parents to three children: two sons, Jay and James Jr., and a daughter, Grace.

The Michigan Wolverines' website states that his son Jay Harbaugh is their safety coach and coordinator of special teams. Grace, on the other hand, is a water polo player and student at the Ross School of Business, and James is a graduate of the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre and Dance.