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Jim Harbaugh’s reported hiring of Michael Johnson as an offensive analyst drew ire, leading Harbaugh to contact Oregon coach Willie Taggart about the Ducks hiring Johnson as wide receivers coach.

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh faced harsh criticism for wanting to hire former NFL offensive coordinator Michael Johnson, whose son is one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2019 class and a Wolverines target.

Rather than go through with it, Harbaugh decided to help a friend.

According to a story from Andrew Greif of The Oregonian, Harbaugh suggested former protege and new Oregon head coach Willie Taggart hire Johnson to the Ducks’ staff. It was reported that Johnson would be an offensive analyst with the Wolverines rather than hold an actual coaching position, which happened to be open at Oregon.

Oregon officially hired Johnson on Wednesday.

“Talking with coach Harbaugh, he knew I needed to find a receivers coach and he knew the kind of guy I was looking for and thought (Johnson) would be a good one,” Taggart told The Oregonian on Wednesday. “After talking and spending some time with coach Johnson I felt he’d be perfect for what we already had here and, more importantly, a good mentor for our players.”

Harbaugh faced plenty of backlash when reports surfaced about his interest in Johnson, with some believing that Harbaugh only wanted to hire Johnson to get closer to Johnson’s son for recruiting purposes.

However, Johnson also is an experienced coach. He after serving as the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator in 2010, he moved on to UCLA and held the same position with the Bruins. He also acted as UCLA’s interim head coach after Rick Neuheisel was fired. Johnson most recently was coaching high school football in California.

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