Jim Harbaugh targeting Penn State football letterman as NFL assistant

There have been a lot of moving parts this offseason. Coaches leave the college level to become NFL coaches and vice versa. One of the biggest moves was when reining National Champion head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to leave Michigan to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. It certainly gives the Penn State football team a different perspective on the Big Ten conference overall. Now, Harbaugh is making another move has Penn State ties, as he is targeting Penn State letterman NaVorro Bowman as an assistant.

Jim Harbaugh targeting Penn State letterman as an assistant

NaVorro Bowman played linebacker for Joe Paterno and Penn State football from 2006 through 2009. During his time at Penn State, he was named first-team All-Big Ten after the 2009 season. From that magical season, he chose to forgo his final season at Penn State and declared for the 2010 NFL Draft.

Bowman was selected in the 3rd round (pick 91 overall) to the San Fransico 49ers, where he played for Jim Harbaugh. He racked up almost 800 tackles and 14 sacks in his incredible NFL career.

Now, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that NaVorro Bowman is the leading candidate to become the next linebackers coach for Jim Harbaugh and the LA Chargers.

Reunion: The #Chargers are targeting former #49ers All-Pro LB NaVorro Bowman to be their new LBs coach, bringing him back together with Jim Harbaugh, per sources.

The two sides will have to come to an agreement on a deal, but the belief is it gets done. Bowman, who helped an SF… pic.twitter.com/kFWhA1RaBM

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2024

Former Nittany Lion head coach moves on from Ohio State

Bowman was not the only coach with Penn State ties on the move this week. Former Nittany Lion head coach Bill O’Brien has officially accepted the head coach position with Boston College. This came just less than a month after Ohio State hired O’Brien to become their next offensive coordinator.

O’Brien’s role at Ohio State was filled by Chip Kelly, creating a vacancy for the UCLA head coaching position. As of Saturday, another Penn State football letterman, D’Anton Lynn, is believed to be among the contenders for the role.

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