Charles Woodson has strong feelings about the Big Ten’s punishment of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh in the wake of the program’s sign-stealing scandal.
Before Michigan’s win over Penn State on Saturday, Woodson — a former Wolverine and NFL defensive back — was asked about Harbaugh’s suspension issued by the conference, in which he is prohibited from coaching in the Wolverines’ final three regular-season games.
“It seems like none of the implications implicated Harbaugh. It only tells you about [alleged sign-stealing point person] Connor Stalions and what he did,” Woodson said on Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show.
“And I don’t know if he is a rogue agent or if he was out there doing it all on his own. I, in my humble opinion, do not believe that Harbaugh knew what [Stalions] was doing.
“… Am I mad? I’m only mad because I think the whole thing is bulls–t. That’s why I’m mad. Other than that, we’re gonna be fine.”
Michigan had filed for a temporary restraining order in the hopes of having Harbaugh back for the Penn State game, but the request was not granted in time.
Despite Harbaugh’s absence, the Wolverines were still victorious on Saturday, improving to 10-0 following a 24-15 win over Penn State.
Harbaugh’s suspension was announced Friday after the Big Ten found the team was operating “an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.”
Though barred from coaching in the remaining games, Harbaugh — who returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2015 — is permitted to coach practices and orchestrate team activities.
Woodson played at Michigan from 1995-97.
In his final season as a Wolverine, Woodson earned the Heisman Trophy and led Michigan to a share of the national title.
He went on to play in the NFL for 17 seasons after being drafted fourth overall by the Raiders in 1998.
Woodson won a Super Bowl with the Packers in February 2011 and earned nine Pro Bowl nods in his career.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.