NOVEMBER 23: In an update on how Harbaugh is viewed in NFL circles, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports notes teams initially had doubts before further details emerged on the sign-stealing scheme. Now, however, the scandal is not likely to stop interested teams from proceeding with inquiries into Harbaugh (video link). With the path to an NFL return clear, it will be worth watching closely how many teams make a push to interview him and how committed he is to remaining at Michigan if firm offers do not emerge.
NOVEMBER 16: For the second time this season, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh finds himself in the midst of a three-game suspension. His latest disciplinary troubles have led many to believe he would not be under consideration for another NFL gig, but that does not appear to be the case. 
The Athletic’s Mike Jones reports Harbaugh could be interested in a return to the pro game, adding that such interest is expected to lead to interview consideration this coming offseason (subscription required). Jones names the Bears and Raiders as teams which could be worth watching on that front, noting the connection Harbaugh has to each franchise.
The 59-year-old – who was suspended by Michigan at the beginning of the season due to alleged recruiting violations and was recently sidelined for the remainder of the regular season by the Big Ten due to the school’s sign-stealing scandal – was a first-round pick of the Bears in 1987. He spent seven of his 14 years in the Windy City as a player, and has a relationship with new Bears president Kevin Warren. Prior to his current posting, the latter served as commissioner of the Big Ten. Chicago has Matt Eberflus at the helm right now, and though he has received support from the organization recently, his job security has been called into question in Year 2.
Harbaugh worked as the Raiders’ QB coach from 2002-03 in what was his first coaching position in the NFL. He has since maintained a relationship with owner Mark Davis, who will be on the lookout for a Josh McDaniels replacement this offseason (unless interim HC Antonio Pierce does enough in the coming weeks to earn the job on a full-time basis). A recent report named the Raiders as a logical landing spot for Harbaugh in the event Davis followed through on his interest in interviewing him, with the caveat that any longstanding punishment handed down by the Big Ten or NCAA may still apply in the NFL.
The most recent NFL looks Harbaugh has received have come in 2022 (from the Vikings) and this past offseason (when he was the first candidate to interview with the Broncos). Not long after the latter meeting, he made the commitment to remain at Michigan and publicly expressed an aversion to future NFL interest. Having taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl during his long head coaching stint at the pro level, though, speculation has frequently tied him to leaving the Wolverines in pursuit of unfinished business.
Harbaugh (who signed a five-year deal with Michigan last winter) would no doubt command a large share of personnel decisions in the event he were to take on an NFL gig. As the 2024 coaching carousel takes shape in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how often his name comes up with respect to interview requests and the degree to which he reciprocates.
LOL, no.
What a prima donna. Every single year ‘Will Jim come back to the NFL?’ Followed from Jim with ‘I love Michigan but I need to interview…’.
Dude has zero loyalty. Don’t expect more than 3-4 years from him. As both SF & UM knows, those years come with a migraine sized ego.
And winning.
I didn’t know he won the SB or NCAA championship. What years did that happen?
Where did I say SB or NCAA champsionship? Those the only games you play during the season? So what are teams doing the other 20 something weeks arty? Reading is fundamental kids.
I said winning
49-22-1 record in NFL
139-52 in college
81-25 at Michigan
Everywhere hes gone he posted winning records.
It does help by cheating for many of the college wins. That’s become apparent.
Wins*
So there’s more than superbowl and ncaa championship played during the season huh? Who knew.
There’s more to winning than winning it all? Sports, at all levels; high school, college, & especially the pros; is about being the champion. That’s why they compete. To prove to everyone that they are #1 in their sport.
So if you dont win it all its a failure of a program? So every nfl team and every college team that doesnt win it all had failure of a season?
Idk. Some small college (not big 5) schools going undefeated but left off CFP probably disagree. And army beating navy with a losing record overall definitely disagrees, considering they think the seasons a failure (even with a winning record) if they lose to Navy.
And im sure Lions fans after decades of mediocrity disagree with your standard given how far theyve come under Dan Campbell. Texans fans are probably happy with what they see out of Stroud/Ryans, though they most likely wont win it all.
Grant and Levy never won it all
22 hof plauers no sb
That’s why they have different divisions at both the high school and college levels. To ‘equal’ out the competition. Smaller schools face each other rather than a D1 program vs D3.
Yes, I’m sure the Lions fans are excited for this season. As they should be. But you don’t think they are dying to hoist the Lombardi trophy more than a NFC North division title?
Plenty of HOF’ers in all sports didn’t win it all. But being a HoF player, you know it eats at them. They’re competitors. Don’t you get that?
Every single NCAA & pro team celebrate anniversaries for their teams when they win it all. I’m sure high school teams also come back to reminisce for winning the state title. It’s a great accomplishment! Former players & coaches come back to the stadium to a roaring crowd!
Jon Harbaugh knows that feeling, not Jim.
Was talking more of when D1 Schools like TCU UCF were left out of the big dance. Idk if cfb playoffs was a thing in 2009 but tcu wasnt part of the national title game that year.
“Eats at them”
Eh im sure theyre happy with being inducted into the HOF and recognized as one of the best to ever play the game. If a player had to pick lombardi and non memorable career or hof career everyone remembers…guarantee players pick hof. 53 players win a superbowl every year. How many of the 53 you actually remember? 5, 10 maybe? Less as times goes on unless youre a fan of the team. People will remember Mahomes Kelce. Not so much Charvius Ward Damian Williams Clyde Edwards Hillaire etc etc etc.
Keep grasping. Big difference comparing NCAA teams to pro’s. Simply a different level and sets of rules. College does compare scheduling for rankings. Pro teams don’t. They’re giving a schedule and play it. I hate that (example) Alabama plays UAB winning 85-0. That’s boring football.
It’s not whom we remember on winning teams, but the players certainly do. Just because we know Kelce, Mahomes, Chris J, & Andy Reid; doesn’t mean the rest of the team don’t get their rings. I don’t follow MLB, but I know the Rangers won the World Series last month.
KC’s B/U QB last year retired after the game as winner and a whole lot of earnings. I forget his name, but he had a big ole smile and a cold beer in his hand! Good for him.
Jim is a constant whiner, cheats, and always fails in the big games. SB & college playoffs show that with clarity. He’s an egotistical joke. And when he bolts this offseason to the pro’s he’ll cause the new team headaches in a few years. That’s his resume.
Youre the one that brought up NFL and college. And now youre mad its not going your way? Lifes tough get a helmet man.
“KC’s B/U QB last year retired after the game as winner and a whole lot of earnings. I forget his name,”
Proved my point lmao. Thanks. Im sure the bCkup QB would have loved to have a HOF qb where every kid is pretending to be him on yhe playground.
You should use spell check when you’re drunk.
Hey look your hero admitted to cheating, yet again this season.
link to cbssports.com
Cracked screen.
Hey look. Desperate attempt by arty to save face cause hes losing. If youre just gonna reply with dumb stuff cause you lost. Move along man. Dont waste peoples notifications space.
And it haunted Grant and Levy for the rest of their lives.
Sure it did. And everyone clapped. Cried. Danced.
So lame! Keep reading ESPN headlines and making your tired comments.
Except he’s been at Michigan for almost 9 years now. “Zero loyalty”
And every year, he interviews for the NFL. Showing UM he’ll always be willing to leave on if his needs aren’t met. Last year lots of chatter w/ him going to Minny as an example.
Don’t forget he’s a whopping 2-7 in bowl games. That’s not winning.
Sounds like arty is stuck at a dead end job with no promotions and no other outside offers available to increase salary.
“Leave if his needs arent met”
Yeah. You just described everyone anywhere at any job. If your job doesnt meet your needs you should leave and seek better employment. Thats just basic common sense.
As much as I enjoyed working at mcdonalds as a teenager earning minimum wage. Its much nicer earning quadruple the wages welding.
Dead end job? Nope happily self-employed for over 7 years.
Like I say I’m not a MLB fan, when did SD win the World Series? Keep rooting for teams & HC’s that just come up short.
Come up short. Name of your sex tape.
With everything that’s gone down there’s no way Harbaugh returns to Michigan next year, he’ll be coaching NFL next year. That SB loss to his brother still stings I believe
I’ll bet he does return, and that he takes over the gig in LA with the Chargers.
Over Bill B? Lots of talk Bill might be headed there this week.
Harbaugh won with worse talent. Bill hasn’t advanced without Tom.
Neither BB nor Jim will land with the Chargers. They’re both too expensive and the Spanos family, in mimic Dallas style, resides within the hiring/firing/draft/scouting job structure defining the ‘family’ would need to concede too much authority.
Besides the Spanos only deal in ‘squeaky clean’ personalities. Both of the above coaches have a ‘blot’ and LA cuts ties faster that a Samurai.
Bears
Chargers
Patriots
Falcons
Patriots would be perfect for Harbaugh. They have a history of spying on opponents too so it won’t take long for Jim to set things up.
Lets get the band back together!
Hopefully the Commies in DC are looking into Harbaugh’s availability. It would make the DMV an all Harbaugh region. Heck the brothers could even have dinner together three times/week.
“Respect the process.”
Loser article
Ask Mike Ditka about the ‘Audible’!!!!
link to youtube.com
All the above waffling mentioned above notwithstanding, to me the driver for Harbaugh to return is the pending results of the overall NCAA investigation. If the NCAA decides to impose a postseason ban on Michigan, to me there’s no way Harbaugh sticks around. Recruiting classes would be impacted by not being able to play for a championship and some NFL owner will couch up crazy money and full control to entice him to leave.
The way things are going in the college game, you’re more likely to see the Power 5 leagues split from the NCAA and go their own way. The Big Ten is Power 5 through and through.
Goodell: “Players betting on games threatens the integrity of the league but we’re delighted to have a known cheater return to the NFL ranks as a HC.”
I just don’t see how Goodell could spin that narrative and retain any kind of credibility.
He’s the Larry Brown of football coaches
You mean the halfback for the Washington Redskins whose career was saved by none other than Vince Lombardi?
Jim has no integrity or loyalty beyond himself.
Kind of typifies the NFL thereby defines he’ll get interview requests and possibly an owner looking to provide a better than 50/50 record with zero playoff appearances will offer a job. My reasoning, winning brings fair weather fans to the house and more fans in house bring money and TV exposure = $$$.
For the CF playoffs – only the teams with the best records should participate based on their record. I tire of Florida, Georgia, Texas schools being touted as premier teams, with a loss, when other D1 teams are undefeated. The ‘panel’ selecting playoff positioning has to be ‘bought’ with some of the structure I’ve seen in my lifetime.
J.O. must be a Bama fan pissed that he won’t get to see the Tide roll over everyone else in this year’s Playoff.
Did I forget to put those idiots in my short list? Nothing about ‘red & white’ is worthwhile!
My thought there should be East coast playoffs and west coast playoffs then pop the top team of each against each other – divide the two using the Mississippi River or the Rockies.
Won’t the North and South want playoffs as well?
No East vs West from Canada to water or Mexeco
Jim is coming back to the Bears.
Or the Raiders
Harbaugh should go crawling back to Palo Alto High School and coach there.
The problem is the Bears will screw it up and he’ll sign somewhere else (that or he will use the Bears as a negotiating ploy the way most high profile available coaches/ players do with Chicago teams). Whether or not that would be a good thing, Im not sure.