Chargers Likely Would’ve Hired This Coach If They Didn’t Land Jim Harbaugh

The Los Angeles Chargers wanted whoever they hired to replace Brandon Staley as head coach to have a proven track record of success.

Which is why before the team ultimately poached Jim Harbaugh from the national champion Michigan Wolverines, they were strongly considering going with former AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel.

“Thought I had a great interview in L.A. for the Chargers, and Harbaugh decided to come back to the NFL, and that's what Mr. Spanos and John Spanos communicated with me, and I respect them for that,” Vrabel told the “Pardon My Take” podcast.

“They literally called me on a speaker phone, and that rarely happens where if an owner is going to interview you and then go in a different direction that they'll personally call you. And they were like, ‘Second place isn't going to give you much, but wanted to tell you that we just had an opportunity to hire Jim Harbaugh.’”

Despite not landing a head-coaching job this cycle, Vrabel was widely considered to be one of the top free-agent coaches available behind Harbaugh and former New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick.

Vrabel, who’s currently a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns, was reportedly fired by the Tennessee Titans after a six-year stint with the team because controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was tired of the power struggle between him and general manager Ran Carthon.

In his six seasons, Vrabel had a 54-45 record with four winning seasons, three playoff appearances and an AFC Championship game appearance. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2021 after leading the Titans to a 12-5 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Related: Ladd McConkey Signs Record-Breaking Rookie Contract With Chargers