As the 2025 NFL schedule continues to trickle out ahead of its full release, one of the most intriguing matchups has already surfaced — and it features a reunion straight out of Michigan’s national title run.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, former Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and his college quarterback J.J. McCarthy will meet for the first time as NFL opponents when the Minnesota Vikings travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football.
Harbaugh and McCarthy both entered the NFL in 2024 following Michigan’s undefeated national championship season. Harbaugh took over as head coach of the Chargers, while McCarthy was selected 10th overall by the Vikings in that year’s draft. However, McCarthy’s rookie campaign was cut short before it began due to a knee injury suffered during training camp. That paved the way for veteran Sam Darnold to start the season — though he’s since signed with the Seattle Seahawks, setting the stage for McCarthy to finally take over as Minnesota’s QB1.
Now, with both men expected to lead their respective teams into 2025, the Week 8 primetime showdown carries added meaning. Harbaugh is looking to get the Chargers back on track after finishing 11-6 last season, while McCarthy enters what is essentially his true NFL debut season, expected to lead a Vikings team that is built to compete with the best in the league.
It’s also a nationally televised reminder of their shared history — a pairing that delivered Michigan its first national title since 1997. Harbaugh helped elevate McCarthy into a top-tier NFL prospect, and McCarthy executed Harbaugh’s vision with poise and leadership on college football’s biggest stage.
Now they’ll be on opposite sidelines, each with something to prove in a high-stakes AFC-NFC clash that could hold playoff implications down the road.
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The Chargers will host the Vikings on Thursday Night Football in Week 8, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET.