Add a third team to the Jim Harbaugh mix. The Panthers have Harbaugh on their radar and have spoken with the Michigan head coach about their HC position, Will Kunkel of Charlotte Sports Live reports.
The Panthers have not yet interviewed Harbaugh about the job, per ESPN.com’s David Newton (on Twitter), but David Tepper spoke with the former 49ers HC. Harbaugh has also been connected to the Colts and Broncos, with the latter intending to follow through with an interview.
It appears clear Harbaugh, who was on the fringes of NFL coaching searches for years prior to his Vikings interview in 2022, will have a firm seat on this year’s carousel. A report Monday linked Harbaugh to having genuine NFL interest, with a competitive offer likely to lead him out of Ann Arbor.
Steve Wilks‘ status has been a frequent talking point since the Panthers started to fare a bit better post-Matt Rhule, but Carolina blew a 14-point lead against Tampa Bay that led to the Buccaneers sealing the NFC South title. Hired as the Panthers’ secondary coach this year, Wilks saw his position group — one without Jaycee Horn — go through a brutal day against Tampa Bay. Tom Brady scorched the Panthers for 432 passing yards, finding Mike Evans for three deep touchdowns. Considering no interim coach has been promoted to the full-time role since 2017, it is now difficult to see the Panthers going with Wilks.
Carolina may have competition for Harbaugh, with new Broncos owner Rob Walton boasting far deeper pockets than the NFL’s second-wealthiest owner. Tepper, who bought the Panthers in 2018, used his financial resources to give Rhule a seven-year, $62MM deal — one that backfired. Both teams have been loosely linked to Sean Payton, but only a small buyout fee will be required to land Harbaugh. The Saints will require compensation for a Payton poaching. This will be Tepper’s second HC hire. The Panthers must interview two external minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule requirement.
Harbaugh, 59, coached in the NFL for just four seasons — from 2011-14 — but enjoyed tremendous success during that period. His .695 NFL win percentage ranks sixth all time. Harbaugh has established a reputation as a coach capable of orchestrating turnaround efforts. The 49ers went from 6-10 to 13-3 in his first season, and Alex Smith became a viable starter for most of the 2010s after Harbaugh helped provide a springboard. Michigan went 5-7 in 2014; the Wolverines won 10 games the next two seasons and made back-to-back CFP appearances from 2021-22. The Panthers have not made the playoffs since Tepper’s arrival.
Michigan’s loss to TCU — the program’s second straight semifinal defeat — may be catalyzing the latest run of Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors. In December, Harbaugh announced intentions to stay in Ann Arbor for a ninth season. It now appears the fiery coach, who has spoken of unfinished business in the NFL, will explore opportunities for a pro return. It would be interesting to see Tepper go back to the college ranks for a hire, but Harbaugh’s profile differs from Rhule’s due to his San Francisco past.
A former college coach in Carolina, what could go wrong?
If Tepper gave 7 years and $62 million to a much smaller time college coach with no NFL head coaching experience, imagine what he’d have to pony up for Harbaugh.
The guy who wouldn’t even shake his brother’s hand.
Harbaugh is a million times the coach that Rhule ever was. Not to mention NFL success already
I don’t know man. Rhule completely turned around 2 perennial doormat programs. Temple and Baylor were college football purgatory, Baylor is still a solid program because of Rhule. It’s a lot easier to be good at Michigan.
Baylor only had 7 consecutive winning seasons just before Rhule became coach including four 10+ win seasons, but keep telling yourself that he turned the program solid, despite his losing record there. Lol
Harbaugh is a gold digger. His word is meaningless. Might as well in vest $70+m in him to think he’ll be faithful.
“Now I ain’t saying he’s a gold digger…”
I can’t think of two guys who deserve each other more than Harbaugh and Irsay… except maybe for Harbaugh and Tepper.
They both have been together before in his playing days.
Since Harbaugh has promised he will return to Michigan in 2023, he better make a stopover in Ann Arbor before he signs with the Panthers. Otherwise some people might think he can’t be trusted…
If I were Harbaugh, I would abstain from taking the Panthers job now, even if I didn’t care about my previous statements. I don’t think that the roster is particularly good, but Wilks has worked really well as interim HC. So if Harbaugh struggles in his first season, things might get uncomfortable rather quickly.
Gruß,
BSHH
Tepper seems like a meddler. Not sure that will sit well with Harbaugh… But I suppose $100 million will make people do a lot of stuff they wouldn’t ordinarily do.
Tepper loves those college coaches. All that money to Rhule, He’ll offer Harbaugh 10 yrs 100 million. Then he’ll watch the broncos break the bank to nab him. All told Harbaugh is sitting pretty right now
It’s all folly.
I guess his dream job has an expiration date. I wonder if David Shaw is ready to get back into coaching?
The ‘interim’ coach brought them from nothing to just missing the playoffs and they would waste their money on this guy?!?
Your name is Gus.
The Raiders made the playoffs last year with an interim coach, and then went out & hired Josh McDaniels. Money & logic both don’t seem to matter anymore.
Is the Rooney Rule in place or not? It’s a joke how the teams work around it. It’s embarrassing for the league.