A little over a year after leading the Michigan Wolverines to immortality against the Washington Huskies, former head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter found themselves in the NFL playoffs. Their Los Angeles Chargers faced the Houston Texans, led by a familiar foe, quarterback CJ Stroud. Harbaugh had beaten Stroud twice at the University of Michigan when Stroud was a Buckeye. In fact, Stroud entered the first round of the Wild Card playoffs without ever beating a Harbaugh brother, as he had also fallen twice to John Harbaugh and the Ravens. After the game, a 32-12 victory for Stroud and the Texans, Coach Harbaugh praised the young QB for his performance.
“Congratulations to him and congratulations-respect. They played a very good special team, offensively and defensively, CJ Stroud-respect to CJ, he made some great plays.”
– Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers
final pic.twitter.com/t7nCcBXu2g
– Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 12, 2025
Former Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Nico Collins also played a big role in defeating his former coach. Collins had 7 catches for 122 yards and the first touchdown of the game. Minter and his top-ranked defense had no answers for the Texans’ ground game and couldn’t get off the field in key moments. The game was filled with craziness and mishaps, with the teams combining for seven turnovers and a blocked PAT that Houston took back for two points. For all intents and purposes, the future in Los Angeles looks much brighter with Harbaugh and Minter in place. As they say, there is always next year.
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