Jim Harbaugh’s era at Michigan might have come to an end, but the widespread effect didn’t. In that golden era of Michigan football, Harbaugh fostered a lot of game-changing figures in the locker room and the coaching room. He sowed the seeds, and you get the fruits: as simple as that. It’s difficult to predict anything lofty for any program beforehand in this changing college football landscape. But this new Michigan is smoking hot, at least in the recruiting streak. They ended up at No. 9 in a bolstered 2025 class. But that’s not their kryptonite. Rather, a man who knows football and has known the school for years serves as a true blessing. Guess the man in the description? Well, it’s Sean Magee, the new general manager of the Wolverines.
We are undergoing a tumultuous time in college football. NIL made the student-athletes financially stable and sound. At the same time, it also caused volatile career shifts purely driven by money. Michigan has been making the best out of its NIL backups. They recently received a bumper NIL promise from Larry Ellison and his wife, Jolin. The couple was pivotal in the Wolverines landing Bryce Underwood. It helps when you can give $10.5 million to a player. But it’s not just about the money. If you don’t have a mastermind to micromanage that money for the best, it is nothing more than a hollow structure and is bound to collapse eventually.
Sean Magee, the GM who returned to Ann Arbor in 2024 after spending two years with the Chicago Bears, seems to be that athletic mastermind for the Wolverines. ON3’s JD PicKell talked about how GM impacts the university.
“I’m here to tell you Michigan with Sean Magee, they have a true architect that actually understands Michigan. I think he’s kind of their secret weapon because Sean Magee, a lot of people don’t know he was at Michigan during the Harbaugh era and was a massive part of putting together those rosters that eventually won the national championship.”
Ideally, he comes with the task of determining the players’ value, watching out for all the recruiting perspectives, adhering to the NCAA rules and regulations, and ensuring the best and fairest business. During his five-year tenure (from 2017 to 2022) as the athletic director under Harbaugh, he became an old hand at tackling the budget and policies. NIL is going to be a new addition to his role. But his experience as a veteran and the mindset of a contemporary will do the job. ”As much as we’re talking about New Michigan here, he’s new Michigan with resources and foresight and all those things and gets Michigan. But also, there are the old Michigan values with him. I think that cannot be overstated,” PicKell added.
However, PicKell gets that old Michigan fans may be anxious about this transition. For a team that harbors tradition, playing the NIL game is fun, but is it sustainable? “Sean McGee, with the way that he operates, it’s not going to be a thing where they just pivot to New Michigan all the way and they, and they just totally abandon what worked,” PicKell said.
What worked in the past? Well, the Wolverines are going to be bullies on the block. Tough in the trenches. With a culture second to none. The only difference? Now, they can match the money offered by the likes of Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, and Georgia.
However, while Magee will do his job behind the doors, all the eyes will be on the crown jewel, the $1o million asset, Bryce Underwood.
Bryce Underwood needs to face an intense QB competition at Ann Arbor
Underwood won’t get his QB1 job without a gusty fight. He might be the nation’s top recruit on pen and paper, but on the field, he needs to wipe out the competitors, doing justice to that tag. Moore makes it clear that Mike Kenne, the Fresno State transfer, will be there vying for that starting spot. He has great numbers under his belt as well. Underwood has to step up and show why he is better. However, he gets a plus in the game as he’s pretty early on the campus, allowing himself the chance to get wet.
“I think just early enrollees in general, it’s a great thing for the game and for those players to be able to come in. And… not only just for football, but for school, be able to handle school, be able to maneuver in school, and know where your classes are. But for him and all the quarterbacks, it’s been good,” Moore said in a post-spring ball press conference.
Bryce Underwood wowed Chip Lindsey with his top-tier performance. The OC believes Underwood’s love and passion for the game will make him ready to suit up for a full-fledged blue and maize match-up. Moore seconds, saying, “Adjusting to things and doing things a little bit differently, but he’s done well. He works his tail off. He’s in here late, in here early, and, you know, those guys have really worked hard to compete in that position.”
If Magee’s off-field eminence and Underwood’s on-field dominance go hand in hand, it’s safe to believe that the sky is the limit for the Wolves in 2025.
The post National Analyst Clears Stance on Michigan’s Million-Dollar Jim Harbaugh Mastermind After Sherrone Moore’s Bryce Underwood Revelation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
