Michigan’s Sherrone Moore reacts to Aidan Hutchinson’s injury, Harbaugh’s health issue

ANN ARBOR – Sunday was a frightening day in the NFL for two former Wolverines who were instrumental in helping Michigan win a Big Ten title in 2021.

Detroit Lions star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, suffered a serious left leg injury in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys and underwent immediate surgery for broken tibia and fibula bones .

Meanwhile, former head coach Jim Harbaugh had to briefly cancel the Los Angeles Chargers’ game against the Denver Broncos due to a heart condition. At the start of the first quarter, the team’s medical staff escorted him to the locker room, where the Chargers’ 60-year-old first-year head coach underwent further evaluation.

He was cleared by doctors and returned to the sideline midway through the first quarter. Michigan’s first-year head coach, Sherrone Moore, was on Harbaugh’s staff in Ann Arbor for seven years, including all four years of Hutchinson’s tenure. He mentioned both people at the end of his weekly press conference on Monday.

“I texted him,” Moore said of Hutchinson. “Also, I just want to say a prayer for him and his family. Terrible injury. I mean, what a great person. Obviously an outstanding player, but a great person. He left a legacy here and I know he is the heartbeat of this team. I really just want to say a prayer for him and his family and let him know we are thinking about them. And also Coach Harbaugh. I sent him a text message. He’s going to the doctor today, so he’d better go. I hope he’s okay, but I’m just praying for both of them.”

Hutchinson, who leads the Lions and the NFL at 4-1 with 7½ sacks, suffered his injury while sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the third quarter.

After the Chargers’ 23-16 win over the Broncos, Harbaugh appeared to downplay the severity of the health crisis on Sunday. He said he had atrial flutter – a type of arrhythmia – and that Sunday wasn’t his first episode during a game. He also experienced an irregular heartbeat as a player in 1999 and as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.

“2-0 with a cardiac arrhythmia,” Harbaugh joked after the game.

During his ten years as Michigan’s head coach, Harbaugh never missed a game for medical reasons.

Fifth-year safety Makari Paige said Monday he didn’t know his former coach had a heart condition.

“I didn’t know but when I heard about it I thought it must have been something serious because he would never leave a game for anything. I pray for him and hope he is well.”

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