While Jim Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors are standard fare in January, there looks to be a bit more smoke surrounding the longtime Michigan HC’s connections to a pro return this year. The Broncos are believed to be interested, and Harbaugh appears more receptive to a jump.
If Harbaugh receives an offer, it is believed he will leave Michigan for the NFL, according to The Athletic. Of course, it would need to be a highly competitive offer that makes Harbaugh one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches, but after Michigan’s CFP semifinal loss to TCU, rumors surrounding the Wolverines’ nine-year HC will be on tap. This latest round of Harbaugh buzz comes less than a month after he said he would stay at Michigan for a ninth season.
Harbaugh, 59, met with the Vikings last year but was not offered the position. The Raiders were also connected to Harbaugh, but he ended up signing a new contract with Michigan. Time is running out for Harbaugh to chase an NFL job. The former quarterback would be among the league’s oldest HCs were he to jump back in, and February will mark 10 years since he matched up with brother John in Super Bowl XLVII. Not too many coaches have returned to the league after this long away.
NFL teams are taking the temperature on Harbaugh’s interest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com offers (video link). Like Jon Gruden in 2018, Harbaugh will be a high-profile candidate. He looks to have at least two known suitors. The Broncos, who have missed on first-time head coaches since Gary Kubiak‘s exit, appear to be interested. They are believed to be prioritizing experience and want to interview the Michigan honcho. The Colts have been connected as well.
Harbaugh’s Michigan contract includes just a $3MM buyout this year, per The Athletic. While the Wolverines can fire Harbaugh for cause if he goes through NFL interviews without informing the school’s athletic director, that seems unlikely to happen. Following the TCU loss, Harbaugh is 74-25 at his alma mater. The Wolverines, who had six- and seven-loss seasons in the two years before Harbaugh’s hire, have won the Big Ten in each of the past two years.
The Broncos are prepared to be “ultra aggressive” to land their preferred head coach. Their new ownership, which was not in place when Nathaniel Hackett was hired, has the league’s deepest pockets — by a wide margin — and hiring Harbaugh would not cost the team draft assets like a Sean Payton move would. The Colts, who rostered Harbaugh from 1994-97 after signing him in the early days of free agency, are also in need of coaching stability.
Both Denver and Indianapolis are retaining their current GMs — George Paton, Chris Ballard — so it would be interesting to see how Harbaugh would fit with an inherited GM. Clashes with Trent Baalke helped lead Harbaugh out of San Francisco. Denver’s next head coach, however, will report directly to Penner. Harbaugh only coached the 49ers for six years, but his .695 NFL win percentage is sixth in NFL history.
Just my two cents…
If I’m considering a guy for head coach who recently declared his loyalty to his current job and then factor in his lack of post-season success, I might think of broadening my search.
Players and coach’s do this all the time. His NFL postseason is 5-3.
Ask Hackett about loyalty. If Harbaugh went 1-12 would Michigan be loyal. It’s sports, if this is still a topic you should stop watching all together
College football programs have deep pockets from all the money not spent on labor, but that’s even more true for a Walmart heir.
Not a surprise. This year will be different than last year. He won’t make the same mistake as he did with the Vikings. He thought he had a job, but it was an interview. He won’t be talking to any team with a guarantee that it is his job.
Harbaughs not wearing khakis in that pic above. Jim Lahey would not approve.
Mr. Lahey to you.
When you’re 59 and been there, what’s the incentive to go to a pro rebuild.
College head coaching requires little day-to-day effort. Think talking smart and shaking hands. There’s assistants to take care of everything.
Jim looking at his options.
He’s getting older and if he wants to return back to the NFL is probably better sooner at her than later. The Vikings and Raiders both had him come in last year and passes so he knows although he’s an asset he’s not a sure thing either.
Things he would want is to be paid well and to have a team with atleast a chance of going to the super bowl with.
Denver has some of the richest owners in the league, and the team they have ain’t terrible.
Russ has won a super bowl and you need to go about fixing him, but he has weapons ready and waiting. If by some miracle he managed to fix Russ then it would add to his legacy too.
Idk it seems like a perfect fit, money, players, legacy…
Any GM that hires Harbaugh is basically giving himself a demotion because Jimbo is a control freak. That’s why the Niners dumped the guy.
Yea and then they went to hell cuz the clowns above him had no clue what they were doing