Jim Harbaugh has high praise for former Michigan football quarterback

In 2021, former Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara led his program to an impressive 12-2 finish, securing a Big Ten title game victory and a College Football Playoff appearance — both firsts for the Wolverines. However, a season later, JJ McCarthy took over the starting position from him just two weeks into the year, prompting McNamara to transfer to Iowa, where he will now seek to lead a new team to success. On Thursday, Jim Harbaugh commented on McNamara and his impact on Michigan’s program.

Former Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara earns major praise from Jim Harbaugh during Big Ten Media Day

Though Cade McNamara is no longer with the Michigan football program, he spent a few successful years in Ann Arbor and remains a favorite among the coaching staff. In fact, according to Jim Harbaugh, what McNamara did for the Wolverines will not soon be forgotten.

“We go back a long way,” Jim Harbaugh said of former Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara during Big Ten Media Day on Thursday. “And there’s somebody that went into a game in 2020, we were down 17 points and just started bringing us back right from the minute he went in the game. Got a big hit right before halftime and then you saw, saw the gravel in the gut that he had and brought our team back for an overtime win.

“And then took off from there — beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten championship. He’s one of those great Michigan men,” Harbaugh explained. “Now he’s a Hawkeye, but the love doesn’t change … There’s a great love for Cade. I’m pulling hard for Cade, praying for Cade. Tells me he’s in a great place and things are going great for him. There with Erick All. Another favorite, another beloved son, Cade, to all of us.”

JJ McCarthy could face off against Michigan’s former QB1 in this year’s Big Ten title game

This fall, Cade McNamara and the Iowa Hawkeyes will be striving to win the Big Ten West for the first time since 2021. They could potentially face Michigan football and JJ McCarthy in the Big Ten title game if all goes well for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines during the season, setting up a battle of Michigan men for the top spot in the Big Ten conference.

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