Bolts Buzz | Why NFL Execs, Coaches Rank Harbaugh Hire as Offseason’s Best

It’s no secret that the Chargers hiring of Jim Harbaugh headlined a busy offseason head coaching cycle.

Since the announcement, analysts and pundits of the league alike have had high praise for the move, even in Las Vegas in the lead up to Super Bowl LVIII — but it doesn’t just stop at those who cover the NFL.

Harbaugh’s hiring also received the highest approval rating among the coaching cycle this offseason according to a poll of NFL executives and coaches done by The Athletic.

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe polled four high-ranking team executives and three coaches and asked them to rank their top three head-coaching hires. Each candidate received three points for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote.

The Harbaugh hire received the most first-place votes (four) and points (15) in the poll, as his experience in coaching and success at every stop led him to the No. 1 spot.

The love for Harbaugh is twofold. First, he has a well-established track record, leading winning programs at Michigan, the San Francisco 49ers, Stanford and the University of San Diego. His teams play hard and physically, and they tend to have a tough identity with strong rushing attacks.

“He’s got some work to do (to turn around the Chargers), but he’s a proven coach at least.”