A throng of reporters encircled Jim Harbaugh, marking his return to the NFL after a decade-long hiatus since his last coaching stint, where he amassed accolades but fell short of the Super Bowl.
Before rejoining the NFL ranks, Harbaugh steered Michigan to a national championship victory, propelled by the stellar performance of future first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who orchestrated a flawless season for the Wolverines.
While Harbaugh isn’t in line to draft a quarterback with Justin Herbert on the roster, the championship-winning coach couldn’t contain his praise for his former protege. Describing it as a resounding endorsement would be an understatement.
“He’s the best quarterback in this draft,” Harbaugh emphatically stated at the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday. “He plays quarterback the best among all the quarterbacks. He’s a winner.”
But Harbaugh’s acclaim for McCarthy didn’t end there. He went into McCarthy’s exceptional pro day showcase at the University of Michigan last week, a display that has fueled McCarthy’s upward trajectory throughout the draft evaluation process. Harbaugh is keen on boosting McCarthy’s stock even further.
“That was the best workout I’ve ever seen from a quarterback during a pro day,” Harbaugh proclaimed. “The best throwing day I’ve ever seen. Coaches and GMs have reached out to me, commending JJ’s performance. It was exactly as I predicted. It came as no surprise.”
McCarthy served as Harbaugh’s quarterback at Michigan for the past two seasons, during which he demonstrated remarkable prowess, amassing 44 touchdowns against a mere nine interceptions. Under McCarthy’s leadership, Michigan notched an impressive 28-1 record in his 29 starts.
Harbaugh’s effusive praise for McCarthy, the quarterback instrumental in securing his national championship, resonated loudly. Although the Los Angeles Chargers may not be eyeing a quarterback with the fifth likely pick, Harbaugh’s glowing endorsement suggests McCarthy may not linger on the draft board for long.
“The accolades were effusive,” Harbaugh remarked. “It was gratifying to hear, truly remarkable, and the praise was unsolicited.”