The idea of honorary captains at football games isn’t new, but in Ann Arbor, it certainly took off in popularity when former head coach Jim Harbaugh started having luminaries serve in that role starting in his first year at the helm. From Michael Jordan to Rich Eisen to Tom Brady, you never knew who would be roaming the sidelines for the Wolverines any given week.
But now, it will be Harbaugh’s turn to fill that role himself.
According to the ‘1 star recruits’ podcast and reported by the Detroit Free Press, Harbaugh will make his triumphant return to Ann Arbor to watch Michigan in-person for the first game that he won’t be the head coach.
Michigan football will have a very familiar face back on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium as the honorary captain for the 2024 season opener against Fresno State on Aug. 31.
Former coach Jim Harbaugh accepted an invitation as the team’s honorary captain Week 1, athletic director Warde Manuel said in an interview on the “1 star recruits” podcast when explaining his new relationship with Harbaugh.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him in September,” Manuel said in the wide-ranging interview about his job running Michigan’s athletic department. “He’s going to be an honorary captain for our first game and I look forward to having him back in Ann Arbor for that game.”
Harbaugh departed the program in January after being offered the Los Angeles Chargers post in the NFL. If the penalties hold, he wouldn’t be able to return to the college ranks (though that would be unlikely anyhow) for some time as the NCAA is looking to levy a four-year show cause and a one-year suspension due to Harbaugh allegedly misleading investigators on minor recruiting violations.
Despite the national news media piling on Harbaugh with these NCAA investigations, he’ll assuredly receive a warm welcome from fans who come to see the Wolverines’ August 31 season opener against Fresno State.