'It's shocking': Jim Harbaugh responds to disturbing allegations surrounding former assistant

Chris Breiler | Apr 2, 2025

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Former Michigan quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was indicted on federal criminal chargers last month. Weiss is charged with two dozen counts of computer related crimes, including hacking into the computers of thousands of students and downloading personal and intimate information. The indictment indicates that more than 2,000 students were impacted across more than 100 universities.

The allegations against Weiss are incredibly disturbing, and former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said he was shocked when he learned the news.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“It was after the TCU game that we — that I found out, we found out, that there was allegations,” Harbaugh told the Detroit Free Press at the NFL's annual spring meeting. “And you said it, I mean indictment, that's not a word that — sympathy for the victims and for Matt's family. It’s shocking.”

Weiss was part of Harbaugh's staff at Michigan during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. But in addition to working with Jim, Weiss was also part of the Baltimore Ravens staff from 2009-20, working under John Harbaugh. Much like his brother, John said he was shocked to hear the news.

“Just really shocking,” John Harbaugh said Monday. “Shocking. Surprising. Didn’t see that one coming. Found out about it the same time everybody else did. Don’t know what to make of it. Just feel really bad for the people involved, that were affected by it. Especially his family and then the people that were victims of that. I love Melissa and the kids. It’s really just a disturbing situation.”

Michigan Ohio / Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Weiss pleaded not guilt to all 24 charges in Detroit's federal court on Monday, March 24th. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and ordered to turn over his passport. Additionally, Weiss was ordered to allow officials to install software on his computers to monitor his internet use. He's now facing significant time in prison, along with $250,000 fine on each of 14 separate charges.

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