Even though Jim Harbaugh was laser focused on getting the right talent in Los Angeles during the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft, there was little doubt that he’d be keeping an eye on his former quarterback at the University of Michigan. It was widely know that JJ McCarthy would be selected early in the first-round, but there was at least some question on draft night as to which team would pull the trigger. Would it be the Giants? The Broncos? The Patriots?

We now have our answer: the Minnesota Vikings.

McCarthy would end up being the fifth quarterback taken in the draft, selected behind Caleb Williams (No. 1, Chicago), Jayden Daniels (No. 2. Washington), Drake Maye (No. 3, New England), and Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8, Atlanta). The Vikings would ultimately trade up in order to select McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick. In doing so, the highly decorated Wolverine became the first Michigan quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since Jim Harbaugh did it back in 1987 (Chicago, No. 26 overall).

Meeting with the media back in LA after the first round of the draft, Harbaugh was asked about his thoughts on seeing his former quarterback becoming a Viking.

“I watched, I stayed and watched it. I’m thrilled that, you know, I’ve been talking to…having conversations with JJ. That’s where he wanted to go. That’s where he had his heart set. I’m just so happy for him, I love him like a son. I was praying and pulling for it to work out the way he wanted it to work out, and the stars aligned. Congratulations to Minnesota, they got themselves a great player.”