There's another new head coach in the AFC West and this is a name that everyone likely knows: Jim Harbaugh. Yes, the same Jim Harbaugh who just led Michigan to a National Championship is now joining the AFC West, taking over as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
This concerns the Chiefs obviously because Harbaugh is joining the Chargers, who are in the same division as Kansas City. The Chargers also have the second-best quarterback in the division in Justin Herbert, who is only going to improve with a legitimate head coach guiding him.
Harbaugh was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 and went 44-19-1 during that time while leading the Niners to the playoffs in three of his four seasons. The 49ers also went to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season and came up just short of winning it all against his brother's Ravens squad.
Breaking: Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan to accept the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2024
The Chargers get their man while the national champions now have a head-coach opening. pic.twitter.com/e937qd03hP
Should Chiefs be worried about Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers?
As far as if the Chiefs should be concerned or not, I'd say not for a few more years. The Chargers are going to be in absolute cap hell this offseason, currently sitting $45 million under the cap, good for the fourth-worst situation in the league (only the Bills, Dolphins, and Saints have a worst cap space situation).
The Chargers are going to have to cut bait with some key players this offseason to get back above the cap and that will make it trickier for them to be competitive right away. The Chiefs are also a team that shouldn't be counted out to win their division until they actually lose out on it. They still have Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and a tough defense so I wouldn't bet against them to keep winning the AFC West while that tandem is still intact.
Down the road, however, Harbaugh could be a royal pain in the butt for Chiefs fans. Once their cap situation gets figured out and Reid ends up retiring, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Chargers make a legitimate run at the AFC West title. Chiefs fans know all too well how a good coach can change everything for an organization so hopefully, the same issues that eventually plagued Harbaugh in San Francisco work against him in Los Angeles and the Chiefs don't have to deal with him for long.
As much as I hate to say it, the Chargers might have finally done something right. This was a good hire for them.