Jim Harbaugh Speaks Out on Sherrone Moore’s Firing and Arrest: “It’s a Tragedy”
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the troubling situation surrounding former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, calling it “a tragedy” and revealing that he’s been in contact with Moore following his firing and subsequent arrest.
Harbaugh, who coached Moore at Michigan before heading to the NFL, shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. When asked how Moore was holding up, Harbaugh didn’t sugarcoat the gravity of the situation.
“It’s the worst days of his life,” Harbaugh said. “You know, ‘Keep it together and take care of your family.’ That’s the message I told him.”
Harbaugh admitted he’s still grappling with the news himself.
“I still don’t have my head wrapped around it, Dan,” he said. “I’m praying for all concerned.”
Moore’s Firing and Arrest
Moore, 39, was dismissed from his position as Michigan’s head coach on Wednesday after the university determined he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member. According to a source familiar with the situation, the school launched an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip. While the initial findings didn’t produce evidence, new information surfaced within 24 hours of his firing that led to his immediate dismissal.
Later that same day, Moore was arrested by Pittsfield Township Police in connection with an alleged assault incident. Authorities were dispatched to the home of the female staffer, and also visited Moore’s residence and Schembechler Hall, Michigan’s football facility. He was eventually detained in Saline, just outside Ann Arbor.
Moore was arraigned on multiple charges: third-degree home invasion (a felony), along with misdemeanor counts of breaking and entering and stalking. According to prosecutors, Moore had confronted the staffer and made alarming threats after she disclosed their relationship to university investigators. He was released from Washtenaw County Jail on Dec. 12 under conditions that include GPS monitoring and continued mental health treatment.
The charges carry serious consequences - up to six years in jail if convicted.
Prosecutor Details Allegations
During Moore’s arraignment, Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski laid out a disturbing timeline. She said Moore and the staffer had been in a long-term intimate relationship.
After the woman ended the relationship on Dec. 8, Moore allegedly began calling and texting her repeatedly - messages she did not welcome.
Rezmierski stated that Moore went to the woman’s home on Dec. 10, where he made a series of threatening statements, including:
“I’m going to kill myself. I’m going to make you watch.
My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life.”
Moore then left the residence. Police dispatch records show that at 4:53 p.m.
ET, Moore’s wife told officers he was in an “unknown parking lot.” A short time later, his phone was located at Well Church in Saline.
Officers detained him at 5:16 p.m. and took him to a hospital for evaluation before transporting him to jail.
Moore’s attorney, Joseph Simon, said after the arraignment that he had not yet reviewed the police report and declined to comment on Moore’s mental state.
A Promising Coaching Career Cut Short
Moore’s firing ends what had been a fast-rising coaching career at Michigan. He joined the Wolverines in 2018 as part of Harbaugh’s staff and worked his way up, eventually taking the reins in 2024 after Harbaugh left for the NFL following Michigan’s national championship and amid the fallout from the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal.
Moore’s tenure got off to a rocky start. Michigan opened the 2024 season 4-3 - a sharp contrast to the dominance of the Harbaugh era, during which the Wolverines had lost just three games over the previous three seasons combined.
Still, Moore showed signs of righting the ship late in the year. Michigan pulled off a gritty 13-10 win over Ohio State in Columbus and landed five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the top-rated recruit in the 2025 class.
But the momentum didn’t last. The Wolverines stumbled again in 2025, losing to Oklahoma in Week 2 and getting routed by USC in mid-October. Moore’s final game on the sideline was a 27-9 loss to Ohio State - a game that snapped Michigan’s four-game win streak in the rivalry.
And throughout it all, the shadow of the Stalions investigation loomed large. Moore served a two-game suspension this season for deleting text messages exchanged with the former staffer at the heart of the sign-stealing probe. He was already slated to miss the 2026 season opener due to additional penalties tied to the case.
What’s Next
It’s a stunning and deeply unfortunate turn for a coach who, not long ago, was viewed as the future of Michigan football. Now, Moore’s career is on hold - and his future uncertain - as he faces serious legal charges and personal challenges.
As Harbaugh said, it’s a tragedy all around. And for Michigan, it’s yet another chapter in a turbulent post-title era that continues to unfold in unexpected and painful ways.