New Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t hold back on what he thinks of an offseason move to the Chicago Bears made recently. The former Bears coach left the Michigan job to take over the Chargers gig in the hopes of fulfilling his lifelong dream of winning a Super Bowl.
Jim Harbaugh had cap space to clear recently
Harbaugh inherited a messy cap space situation this offseason. Thanks to cap restructure, he was able to keep pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. However, the Chargers had to cut wide receiver Mike Edwards to get under the salary cap and traded Keenan Allen to the Bears to save more cap space.
Harbaugh thinks the Chicago Bears overpaid at WR
During the coach’s breakfast at the annual league meeting Monday, Harbaugh was asked about losing Allen to the Bears. According to Albert Breer with Sports Illustrated, Harbaugh defended the loss by calling out Allen for his salary and took a shot at Bears general manager Ryan Poles for accepting the trade for a pricey and often injured receiver:
“Keenan, $23 million a year, playing in Chicago, who’s got it better,” Harbaugh asked.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh on Keenan Allen: “Keenan, $23 million a year, playing in Chicago, who’s got it better?”
And we’re back. pic.twitter.com/CKlUhCuR0F
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 25, 2024
Ryan Poles thinks Keenan Allen will be helpful for their rookie QB
Per Adam Hoge with CHGO Sports, Poles had a different perspective on the trade. He thought the Bears received an excellent talent for an incoming rookie quarterback:
“I thought it was an absolute perfect fit. I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses.”
#Bears were looking at other WR targets, but pivoted quickly when they found out Keenan Allen was available.
Ryan Poles: “I thought it was an absolute perfect fit. I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of…
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) March 25, 2024
Harbaugh’s quip shows why he and Poles might not have worked well together. NFL experts considered Harbaugh as a top target to replace head coach Matt Eberflus if the Bears chose to fire him after two brutal seasons.
Poles said at the Bears’ end-of-season press conference in January that he didn’t consider reaching out to Harbaugh because he was Michigan’s head coach. We’ll see in the 2024 season who got the better of the Allen trade.
