Michigan Reunion: The list of Wolverines that Jim Harbaugh brought with him

The Los Angeles Chargers are building up a lot of excitement for the 2024 NFL season, and much of that excitement is thanks to the team’s new head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

After he was hired to replace Brandon Staley, the excitement began. Harbaugh coached in the NFL and led his team to the Super Bowl, where the Chargers had not been since 1994. The excitement over such a hire is natural.

Harbaugh has a proven track record. He just won the national title at Michigan and is bringing as much of that to LA as possible. The old saying goes that success breeds success, so it’s hard to argue with his plan.

Former Michigan Wolverines who are now with the Los Angeles Chargers

Trainer

Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator

Jesse Minter once worked on John Harbaugh’s staff with the Baltimore Ravens before becoming Jim’s defensive coordinator at Michigan. He had one of the best defenses in the country in 2023, a big reason the Wolverines won it all.

Steve Clinkscale, defensive backs coach

Steve Clinkscale has been coaching since the early 2000s. Last year he was co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Michigan and followed Harbaugh to LA to coach defensive backs in the NFL.

Mike Elston, defensive line coach

Mike Elston attended Michigan and became a coach after high school, coaching the defensive line and helping recruit players the last two seasons.

Dylan Roney, defensive assistant

Dylan Roney worked as a research assistant under Harbaugh at Michigan.

Ben Herbert, Managing Director of Player Performance

Ben Herbert was one of Harbaugh’s most trusted coaches at Michigan, where he served as the assistant head coach and ran the strength and conditioning program. When you think of important names behind the scenes, Herbert is one of those guys.

Ben Rabe, Director of Performance Analysis

Rabe worked under Herbert at Michigan and was a trusted part of the Wolverines team.

In addition to all of those coaches, Harbaugh brought in Navarro Bowman, Will Tukuafu and Jonathan Goodwin from his time as coach of the San Francisco 49ers, where all three had played for him.

player

Jim Harbaugh is all of us.

pic.twitter.com/bwjKXCJbRs

— GBM Wolverine (@GBM_Wolverine) 27 April 2024

Junior Colson, Linebacker

The team’s third-round pick has the chance to be a starting inside linebacker as a rookie.

Cornelius Johnson, wide receiver

Seventh-round picks are often considered lucky finds, so Harbaugh threw one at a guy who played wide receiver at Michigan and, as a practice squad player, should have a chance to develop with the team.