The rumors have not slowed down linking University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. Harbaugh has been continuously mentioned as a candidate for any open head coaching position in the last few years, and his latest move is only adding fuel to the fire. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Harbaugh has hired a new agent in Don Yee, a longtime agent with such notable clients as Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Harbaugh is currently in a complicated position. As NFL teams have begun parting ways with coaches or making their intentions for the future clear, Harbaugh still has to deal with his current position. The top-ranked Wolverines are one of four college football teams in the country with something still to play for. Tomorrow afternoon, Michigan will face off against the 4-seed Crimson Tide for a chance to play in the National Championship the following Monday. In addition to being in contention to win it all at the college level, Harbaugh has also been in major discussions for an extension to remain at Michigan.
The possibility of an extension is one likely reason for Yee’s hiring. Entering complicated contract negotiations that have been rumored to include a clause restricting Harbaugh’s ability to leave for an NFL job is reason enough to bring in representation. That being said, Yee’s NFL ties are not easy to ignore. The obvious tie with Yee comes from his relationship with Brady. Brady has been rumored as a potential candidate for partial ownership in the Raiders, who recently parted ways with head coach Josh McDaniels. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce has been making a strong case to hold on to the permanent position with a 4-3 record since taking over, but we saw a similar interim situation not pan out for the incumbent coach in Carolina last year, so anything is still possible.
Here are a few other coaching rumors from around the NFL:
- In a report last night, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport delivered an update on Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. Entering the 2023 season on a 10-game losing streak after having gone 3-14 in his first season as head coach, patience for Eberflus in Chicago seemed to be wearing thin. After the team finally ended the skid at 14 games, Eberflus has led the Bears to a 6-5 record since, keeping the team improbably in the playoff race. The Bears are playing winning football recently, with even their most recent two losses coming in one-score games against playoff teams from Detroit and Cleveland. At this point, Rapoport claims that he would be surprised to not see Eberflus back for the 2024 season. Additionally, Eberflus has been handling defensive coordinator duties since the untimely resignation of Alan Williams at the start of the season, a role he also may retain going into next year.
- On the other hand, Rapoport wasn’t nearly as optimistic about the prospects for current Commanders head coach Ron Rivera. With new owner Josh Harris in the building, it was expected that Rivera would at least be granted the opportunity to make a case to retain his position. After a six-game losing streak that has eliminated Washington from playoff contention, Rivera’s audition is not going well. Spelling further possible doom for Rivera, after putting all of his eggs in the Sam Howell-basket, hoping to develop the young gunslinger into a franchise passer, Rivera has been forced to bench Howell in each of the team’s last two losses in favor of Jacoby Brissett. Nothing seems to have been decided quite yet, but things aren’t looking promising for Rivera and company in Washington.
It is Chargers or nothing for him. He is not going to a rebuild situation.
Chargers are 5-10. They need a rebuild.
They consider the coach to be at fault. Herbert, 3 first round wrs, some high drafted oline, Bosa, Mack, always injured Derwin, Kendricks, Asante Jr.
They are going for a big name. They will be the only job with a QB in place, though I find Herbert way overrated.
I also find Herbert way overrated. He’s 30-31 in his career, enough said. But their other big names aren’t getting it done. Fox sports has their D ranked 28th in the league.
Wins and losses are a team accomplishment.
There’s 3 parts of football. Offense Defense Special teams. Herbert doesn’t play defense or special teams.
Last 3 years chargers have finished
9th, 4th, 9th in total offense
13th scoring 23+ points per game
5th scoring 27+ points per game
19th scoring 24+ points per game
Defense has finished
20th in yards allowing 22+ points a game
23rd in yards allowing 27+ points a game
10th in yards allowing 26+ points a game
Hard to win games when whatever you score your defense gives right back
Like I said, they need a rebuild. Big names, little talent. But don’t forget Herbert has the most batted balls for all QB’s. Herbert certainly doesn’t carry the team on his back like HoF’ers do.
Yeah that tends to happen to accurate QBs. Their throws are usually easier to bat at line of scrimmage cause they’re leading receivers to catch balls in stride.
Guys that don’t (throw behind receiver throw too high miss interception) don’t typically get balls batted as much cause defenders are blocking throwing lanes, miss a throwing lane less chance it’s batted.
Also Burrow led the league in 2022. Herbert led the league in 2021, Mayfield led the league in 2020.
Pretty hard to call someone accurate when their balls are being batted down. Oxymoron right there. Herbert is 30-31. Until he wins more, he’s an average QB. His record says so.
Not really. Guys interfering with a thrown ball doesn’t mean it was an inaccurate throw.
A lot of batted balls are considered on target throws not bad passes. Someone interfering with the pass doesn’t mean it was a bad pass.
Just like a db interfering with a pass and tipping it into the air doesn’t mean it’s the QBs fault the ball was intercepted.
You should spent less time worrying about Herbert’s win loss record and more time learning about the game.
Just because you keep saying doesn’t mean it matter btw. It doesn’t.
I know the game. 4 years in, Herbert’s record is 1 game under .500. You may want to study the game a bit more. No division titles or playoff wins. Winning is the entire point to sports, you do understand that right?
Doesn’t seem like it. You have some pretty bad takes on here regularly. But maybe another 10 or so years you’ll get there. Happy new years.
I’ll bet right now Herbert is around .500 next year. You game? he’s average.
Sorry but your assessment of Herbert is way off. The only opinions that matter are NFL coaches and GMs and I can guarantee they would pick Herbert as a top 10 QB
@ arty /
Joe Namath’s career record was one game under .500
Warren Moon was one game over .500
Dan Fouts was two games over .500
Each of them is in the Hall of Fame.
I 3rd find that Herbert is overrated. Haven’t seen him with that killer instinct that Burrow, Brady, Mahommes has to will the team to victory when the game is on the line. The playoff meltdown vs Jaguars was a good example.
The playoff game where Herbert led the chargers to 30 points and the defense collapsed and gave up 31? lol. Sure. Herbert’s fault the defense collapsed.
Remind me again. How many defensive snaps did Herbert play that game? Oh that’s right. 0.
Almost like wins and losses are a team accomplishment.
Wins and losses are a team sport. How many points did he put up in the 2nd half last year in Jax, 0? Like I say, learn the basics of the game.
So he scores 30 and your issue is with Herbert not scoring more instead of defense blowing a lead. Yup bad take as always arty. Herbert did his job. Defense did not. Herbert put up enough points to win. Defense whose job is to not give up points and hold a lead didn’t do their job.
I like how arty and plus blame Herbert for the loss in Jacksonville but not the defense blowing a lead and the kicker who missed a fg which would have been 33 points and 33 is more than 31. Totally Herbert’s fault
I’m sorry farty! But your wrong. Totally wrong. I created an account just so I can agree with everyone but you. You clearly don’t understand football but that is ok. Maybe 1 day you will. Have a great day and try to learn how team sports work. Idk if you will tho
My apologies I’m wrong. Herbert has a 30-32 record in the league & averages under 300 yards a game (277). Want the link for verification?
That’s terrible in today’s game by any measure. That’s back up material.
Well it looks like Eberflus will be back. This team has talent. I’ve said if they were going to keep Eberflus they need to keep Fields. So now it’s obvious, Trade the number 1 pick down and get a ton of assets. As much as I would love Harrison Jr. they need more than him. They need some serious upgrades in the middle of the O line. They need another Edge. Sign Danielle Hunter in FA if he makes it there. The things they need, You don’t need high picks for. I would love to see them draft a guy like Quinn Ewers or whoever they like to solidify the QB room. Just because Fields is the guy doesn’t mean you can’t think ahead. They need another S. These are all things you don’t need high picks for. There are other Wr’s that will upgrade the room. Poles has all the cards. I just hope he plays them right. They also need to bring in a consultant to help Eberflus learn how to manage a game although he has gotten better lately. Let’s see.
I’d say Bears should make a run at Harbaugh. Only sticking point will be how much control he’ll want over personnel. Go with the proven HC over the coordinator who still is still learning the position. As for Fields, he’s finally gotten better but still is good not great. Bears have been running the ball very well which helps his game. Fields should watch more Lamar tape from this season.
I want no part of Jim Harbaugh. He’s a POS. Now if you’re talking about his brother that’s a totally different story.
How exactly is he a POS? Hes a lroven winner at HC and doesn’t need a consultant to help him manage game situations like Eberflus does.
He’s a proven cheater, Basically a smug a** and hasn’t won a thing at Michigan despite having superior talent. His brother is 3 times the coach he is. How can you say he’s a winner? he’s had 1 decent season in the Pros and then ran away to Michigan. No thanks. POS. He’s had so many recruiting violations they’re putting up a plaque for him in the NCAA head office for the World Record.
NCAA is a joke, you can pay players but you can’t call them certain times a year
Cheaters that resort to sign stealing are usually POSs.
That’s pretty much most college coaches
Sure it is. That’s why all those other schools and coaches are under ncaa investi..,,,
Lots of college coaches “cheat”. Jim’s record in the NFL is 59-36-1, and in college 142–52. I’d say that’s a proven winner. Here’s a link to college coaches basically saying they all do what Harbaugh did.
link to espn.com
And how many Championships? His brother has 2. Harbaugh the loser has ZERO. He’s a proven choker, Just like he was when he was a QB here. No Freakin Thanks.
Didn’t really read your article did you.
“ Grant said Auburn tried to decipher signs only in real time. Because of that he never felt like they were crossing the line.”
Yes. Coaches watch other teams call plays in game. That happens at every level. Teams watch video of plays their opponents run too in preparation of games as well.
“ Last Thursday, the Big Ten confirmed that the NCAA is investigating Michigan for an alleged off-campus sign-stealing operation. Coach Jim Harbaugh denied any knowledge or involvement in plotting to steal opponents’ playcalling signals by sending representatives to their games.”
No. Colleges and coaches don’t send guys to off campus games to film signs so they can prepare ahead of time creating a competitive advantage.
Neither did you.
“Sign stealing, whether legal or illegal “is incredibly rampant in this business,” a longtime Power 5 assistant said. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles told ESPN in December that he estimates 75% of teams do it in some form.”
Not sure what your point is.
I read your article. You’re comparing situations where both teams are trying to figure out what each other is doing in games vs harbaugh and Michigan filming off campus games to prepare for opponents. It’s not the same no matter how hard you try to make it the same.
So 75% of teams steal signs “in some form”, meaning in-game sign stealing or otherwise, but it’s not the same? Harbaugh just got caught. It IS the same and so what? He’s still a successful career HC and the most qualified candidate for any NFL HC openings by far. Michigan wants him back, and he’ll get $10-15M annually in the NFL. What does that say?
No it’s not the same
BOTH teams can see each others signs in game
BOTH teams can watch game film prior to games on opponents offense and defense
BOTH is the key word.
Only ONE (key word) team was caught going to off campus games and stealing signs before playing certain opponents. The OTHER (key word) team didn’t go to Michigan games and steal their signs weeks ahead of time. If they did please present proof of which opponent(s) it was and notify the NCAA
Imagine standing in court before a judge and saying that you “didn’t cross the line” because you committed your crime in “real time” rather than making plans ahead of time…lol.
Bad analogy. Horrible analogy.
Reason ncaa doesnt care is because both teams have the chance to do so meaning nobody gains a competitive advantage in game. They see your signs you see their signs. Trying to figure out signs in games is like watching game film before game looking at formations and alignments and such. Both teams have the option of doing so.
Michigan and harbaugh going to off campus games and deliberately stealing signs they plan for ahead of time creates a competitive advantage in michigans favor. The other team isn’t going to Michigan games and stealing their signs ahead of time. Which is the issue.
Imagine comping up with a dumb analogy on something you don’t understand what the issue at hand is. Competitive advantage
So you think JH is the only NCAA coach that had other teams practices filmed? Since Michigan wants him back, and he’ll make $10-15M in the NFL, and the NCAA only gave him a few games suspension, it seems you don’t understand the issue at hand, and are trying to make a bigger issue out of it than everyone else is.
Jim Harbaugh got caught cheating. End of story man. He tried to gain a competitive advantage against opponents and got caught thus labeling him a cheater.
I’m not gonna accuse others of going out of their way to gain a competitive advantage unless there’s proof they’re doing such and it’s in such a way that other teams don’t have the same opportunities.
This is the bill bellicheck and patriots excuse “other teams do it too!” Didn’t work then doesn’t work now
I’m confused how the semantics of “having an equal opportunity to cheat” is any different than “other teams do it too”. You’re either in violation of rules or you’re not. Two wrong don’t make it right.