Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh offered a brief, stunned reaction Friday regarding the firing and subsequent arrest of his successor at Michigan, Sherrone Moore, a development that has sent shockwaves through the college football world.
When asked about Moore’s termination for cause and the ensuing criminal charges, Harbaugh, usually never at a loss for words, kept his response short.
“I’m still processing that,” Harbaugh told reporters after Chargers practice. “Chad Jessop told me, one of our equipment guys. We were coming off the field on Thursday. Still processing that like a lot of people, I’m sure.”
Moore, 39, was fired by the University of Michigan on Wednesday following an internal investigation that revealed an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.” The situation escalated rapidly when Moore was arrested hours later. He was arraigned Friday on charges including first-degree home invasion and stalking.
Jim Harbaugh on Sherrone Moore being fired: pic.twitter.com/hmkcyfIOgN
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) December 12, 2025
The bond between mentor and successor
The relationship between Harbaugh and Moore has been defined by immense trust and loyalty. When Harbaugh served his suspension during the 2023 national championship season—stemming from the NCAA investigation into the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal—it was Moore he tapped to lead the team.
Moore went 4-0 as acting head coach, including a defining victory over Ohio State. When Harbaugh departed for the NFL in January 2024, he fiercely advocated for Moore to take the reins, calling him a “legend” and stating he was the “only person” for the job.
That loyalty went both ways. During the NCAA’s investigation into the sign-stealing operation, Moore was implicated for deleting a thread of 52 text messages with Stalions on the same day media reports broke the news of the scandal. Moore eventually provided the recovered messages to the NCAA, but his initial instinct to protect the program—and by extension, Harbaugh’s legacy—cemented his status as a “company man” in Ann Arbor.
Analysis: Would Harbaugh offer Moore a lifeline?
Given their history, the question naturally arises: Would Jim Harbaugh, known for his fiercely loyal inner circle, consider hiring Sherrone Moore to the Chargers’ staff?
Under normal circumstances, the answer would likely be yes. Harbaugh has a track record of keeping trusted lieutenants close. If Moore had been fired simply for on-field performance or minor NCAA infractions, a role as an analyst or position coach in Los Angeles would be a logical next step.
However, the current circumstances are far from normal.
The barrier to a reunion is no longer about football or NCAA rules; it is legal and ethical. Moore is currently facing serious felony charges. Prosecutors allege Moore entered the home of the staff member, threatened self-harm, and told the victim, “My blood is on your hands.”
While the NFL has historically been lenient regarding second chances, the combination of an “inappropriate workplace relationship” and alleged violent, erratic behavior creates a PR firestorm that few NFL franchises would willingly invite.
Harbaugh’s loyalty is legendary, but he is also pragmatic. Hiring a coach actively navigating felony home invasion charges would be a significant distraction for the Chargers organization. Until Moore’s legal situation is resolved—and likely for a significant period thereafter—the bridge between the mentor and his protégé appears impassable.
For now, Harbaugh, like the rest of the football community, is left “processing” the rapid downfall of a coach he once viewed as the future of Michigan football.
