Jim Harbaugh denies association with cheating as Michigan football faces punishment

Jim Harbaugh is standing firm in pleading his innocence.

When asked Monday about being accused of having committed a Level 1 violation by the NCAA, Harbaugh insisted that he had no awareness of Michigan football’s sign-stealing operation.

“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson,” Harbaugh said at Los Angeles Chargers practice. “I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I’ve coached.”

Afterward, Harbaugh seemed to allude to the fact that he would express contrition — but instead did the exact opposite.

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“No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize, and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize,” Harbaugh quipped. “I did not participate — was not aware, nor complicit — in those said allegations. So for me, it’s back to work, and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

On Sunday, ESPN reported that the NCAA had begun to outline potential penalties for those involved in Michigan’s sinuous controversy, including Harbaugh and new head coach Sherrone Moore, who were both named in a draft of the governing body’s notice of allegations.

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Harbaugh reportedly did not allow the NCAA to look at “relevant messages and phone records from his personal cellphone.”

Likewise, Moore — who was elevated after working as UM’s offensive coordinator for the last three seasons — allegedly deleted 52 texts with staffer Connor Stallions after news spread of Stallions’ wrongdoing.

Stallions was indeed confirmed by the NCAA to have attended a Central Michigan game in order to scout Michigan State after pictures of what looked like a beguiled Stallions went viral on social media.

Harbaugh joined the Los Angeles Chargers in January after serving as the Wolverines’ head coach from 2015-23, with his crown jewel accomplishment being a national championship in his last season.

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The 60-year-old coach was suspended for three games in 2023 due to the scandal but returned for the postseason, which saw Michigan beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship and ultimately down Alabama and Washington in the College Football Playoff.

Harbaugh takes over a Chargers team that went 24-27 with one playoff appearance in the last three years — and which already has concerns about the health of quarterback Justin Herbert.

Los Angeles will prove to be the first NFL training grounds for Harbaugh since he coached in San Francisco from 2011-14, leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance and three NFC Championship games.

With Harbaugh now entrenched in the NFL for the immediate future, he can seemingly avoid any type of penalty from the NCAA, although ESPN added that Harbuagh may receive a “show-cause” restriction if he returns to the college ranks.

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