Jim Harbaugh left Michigan after leading the Wolverines to the 2023 national championship, and his exit came amid major fallout from the team’s sign- stealing scandal. He is now with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Michigan has continued dealing with NCAA penalties and related coaching changes.

What happened

Harbaugh’s final Michigan season ended with a title, but it was also shadowed by investigations into alleged sign-stealing and other NCAA issues. In late 2023, the Big Ten suspended him for the rest of the regular season, and he later returned for the conference championship game.

Why people still talk about it

The bigger story was not just the suspension itself, but the wider NCAA case that kept following Michigan after the championship run. In 2025, reports said Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause order tied to the case, even though he had already moved on from Michigan and was coaching in the NFL.

In plain English

If someone asks “what happened to Jim Harbaugh at Michigan,” the short answer is:

  • He won a national title with Michigan.
  • Then the sign-stealing scandal blew up.
  • He faced suspensions and investigation fallout.
  • He left for the NFL and is now with the Chargers.

If you want, I can also give you the full timeline of the Michigan-Harbaugh scandal in simple chronological order.