Jim Harbaugh declines Michigan offer to serve as honorary captain as he prepares for Chargers' season opener

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh will not be an honorary captain for Michigan's home opener after all, Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Tuesday. Harbaugh was invited to return to Michigan Stadium for the Fresno State game on Aug. 31 but is declining the offer because he doesn't want to be away from his NFL squad as it prepares for its season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 8.

Moore said Harbaugh called to inform him of his decision, sharing that Harbaugh did not want to be a "distraction" as Michigan's 2024 squad begins a new campaign.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel told the "1 Star Recruits" podcast this month that Harbaugh had been offered the honorary captain position for the game after he led the Wolverines to the 2023 national title. Harbaugh's decision to decline comes as the program navigates a pair of scandals that occurred during his leadership of the program.

NCAA officials announced a four-year show-cause penalty for Harbaugh this month for recruiting violations that occurred during the COVID-19 dead period. Harbaugh's "unethical conduct" and "failure to cooperate" as well as what the NCAA described as "his provision of false or misleading information" constituted a Level I NCAA violation, according to the NCAA's announcement.

Michigan is also awaiting final word on punishments for the sign-stealing scandal that embroiled the program during its 15-0 march to last season's national title. But despite those issues with the NCAA and Harbaugh's exit for the NFL after nine seasons at Michigan, Manuel made it clear the former Wolverines quarterback is still a welcome figure in the program.

"I wanted to have Jim stay here," Manuel said. "I really had a great conversation with his lawyers, I had great conversations with him. He, I think, was looking at two options. As he said when he had his press conference, he couldn't win a Lombardi Trophy if he remained at Michigan, and that was something he wanted to do. When he called me to let me know he was going to leave, I told him I was sad for us but happy for him and want him to be successful, and I'll be cheering him on this season to have great success."