Is Harbaugh the spark the Chargers need at HC?

This week the Los Angeles Chargers officially made their next Head Coaching hire as they brought in Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, coming fresh off a national championship at Michigan, is a compelling coach with a decorative history. Jim last coached in the NFL from 2011 to 2015 with the 49ers, where he had a fair amount of success. In 2013 Harbaugh led his 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they would face his brother John's Ravens. His impact on that team was significant, from their gritty and tough playstyle on defense to the innovation they implemented on offense. Nearly ten years later, Coach Harbaugh gets another shot in the big leagues, but is he the right guy for LA?

The biggest reason I do think this is a good fit is Harbaugh's connection with the Quarterback position. Jim was a former first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1987 and would continue playing until 2000. His background as a player will surely help him mesh with a new locker room as it has in the past. With his new Quarterback, Justin Herbert, being as talented as anyone in the NFL, I believe being able to relate with him on a player level will be huge. Harbaugh famously took Colin Kaepernick and turned him into an overnight sensation in the early 2010s. Coaching a player like Herbert, whose skillset is elite, is right up Jim Harbaugh's alley. I can imagine that the sky is the limit for these two.

One of the big issues that has plagued the Chargers of late has been the defensive side of the ball. For what seems like the better part of the last half-decade, the Chargers just haven't been able to figure it out. Harbaugh could be the one to finally fix that up, as the unit on paper definitely has talent. His 49er's defenses were formidable and one of the league's best, albeit they had multiple All-Pros and Patrick Willis, a future Hall of Famer.

With the Super Bowl nearing close, and ultimately the season's end Chargers fans should have much to look forward to moving into next year with Harbaugh at the helm. A coach who establishes a culture of winning and has the resume to back it up. All of that, combined with the talent on this roster, and I think this is a match made in heaven.