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Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Washington Huskies during the 2024 CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas Photo By Stacy Revere via AFP

We closely examined Jim Harbaugh’s future team probabilities using one of our top sports betting apps, as rumors circulated that the ex-Michigan Wolverines coach might depart for the NFL instead of accepting a position with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after leading the Michigan Wolverines to the 2024 College Football Championship.

According to multiple reports on Wednesday, the former San Francisco 49ers coach, who currently holds the fifth-highest win percentage in NFL history at 69.5%, has accepted the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Chargers. This comes after he interviewed with several NFL teams in recent years following a successful run at his alma mater Michigan.

The ongoing rumors prompted top sports betting sites to start taking bets on Harbaugh’s next team, much like they did for Bill Belichick. The Chargers were consistently listed as one of the top contenders. As predicted, Harbaugh is now on his way to Los Angeles for his return to the NFL after ten years.

We thoroughly examined the Jim Harbaugh next team odds from our top NFL betting sites prior to Wednesday’s news.

Jim Harbaugh next team odds

Market asks: Which team will Harbaugh coach for in Week 1?

(odds according to DraftKings as of Monday, January 15th)

TeamOdds
Not the head coach of an NFL team-300
Chargers+150
Any other NFL team+650
Falcons+1300
Commanders+1800
Raiders+1800
Bears +3500
Titans+4000
Panthers+5000
Saints+7500

Jim Harbaugh next team betting analysis

(Note: This article was written prior to the announcement that Harbaugh would be accepting the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Chargers.)

This particular market is exclusively available at DraftKings, the leading sportsbook. The Los Angeles Chargers are currently favored among NFL teams with +150 odds, but DraftKings has shifted the odds in favor of “not the head coach of an NFL team,” hinting at a potential return to Michigan after winning the national championship.

It’s unexpected to see the Washington Commanders ranked higher than the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders, given Harbaugh’s background and the appeal of other potential destinations.

It is surprising to see the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints on the list, as they do not appear to be considering replacing their current head coaches Brian Daboll and Dennis Allen. The Atlanta Falcons are the biggest unknown in this situation, as they are a quarterback away from potentially making a breakthrough similar to Harbaugh’s former San Francisco team, albeit without an elite defense.

The Falcons are considered the most likely NFL team to become Bill Belichick’s next team.

Jim Harbaugh’s next team prediction

Chargers (+150 via DraftKings)

Returning to the NFL with the Chargers would be the best move for Harbaugh, given the team’s readiness to compete for a playoff spot. With Justin Herbert at quarterback, Harbaugh would have a strong foundation to build upon.

Additionally, it’s important to consider Harbaugh’s strong connections to California. He has coached college football at Stanford, played for the Chargers, coached at the University of San Diego, and briefly served as an assistant coach with the Raiders during their time in Oakland.

Let’s shift our attention to other teams, as the Raiders offer great value. While fans and players adore Antonio Pierce, Harbaugh may be interested in returning to a franchise where he previously coached quarterbacks from 2002-03. Plus, there’s the added allure of Las Vegas.

If he isn’t tempted by the bright lights of Vegas or the uncertain quarterback situation, the Panthers may be a potential destination. He would have the opportunity to work with a young quarterback, but the lack of future draft picks and an owner who is heavily involved in team decisions may lead him to consider other options.

It appears that his likely destinations are either Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Michigan. He may be seeking to escape the cold weather, or perhaps he is interested in furthering his legacy at Michigan. Regardless, there will come a time when he seeks to make history by becoming one of the few coaches to win both the College Football National Championship and the Super Bowl.

If he achieves that goal this offseason, the Chargers or Raiders may be options to consider, with the former being the more probable choice because of state connections and a more stable roster and quarterback situation.

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