Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is reportedly telling recruits he is entertaining NFL offers.
Fresh off a Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh could be turning his attention to the NFL.
According to Sam Webb of 247Sports, Harbaugh is reportedly telling recruits that he is at least entertaining the idea he could go back to the NFL. Prior to arriving back at his alma mater, Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers for four years, leading them to NFC Championship Game three times and to Super Bowl 47 in 2013. The only year he did not take the 49ers to the playoffs was his last season leading the team in 2014.
Harbaugh has a reputation of never sticking anywhere for very long as a head coach. He has been at Michigan for seven years, but he may be getting that itch to rejoin his brother John in the NFL. If the right job opens up, maybe Harbaugh leaves Ann Arbor?
Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh could be returning to the NFL
While Harbaugh has a great thing going at Michigan with the Wolverines coming off their best season in decades, he would be a candidate for a handful of NFL jobs if they open up. The two jobs of note he is most connected to are the Chicago Bears and the Las Vegas Raiders. He played for the Bears out of college and began his coaching career for the Silver and Black in Oakland.
Chicago is expected to fire Matt Nagy after four seasons at the helm. While Harbaugh has great memories from his time with the Bears, Chicago has not been a well-run operation for years now. Though the same thing can be said about the Raiders, Harbaugh is reportedly tight with owner Mark Davis and would be going to a playoff-caliber team led by franchise quarterback Derek Carr.
There are other jobs where Harbaugh would technically be a candidate. He has that Stanford connection with John Elway, so he could be a possibility if the Denver Broncos move off Vic Fangio. There is also the allure of coaching Trevor Lawrence with the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, there is no way Harbaugh would consider them if Trent Baalke remains the Jaguars’ general manager.
Ultimately, Harbaugh is wise to at least entertain NFL offers. All this is going to do is increase his leverage to get a revamped contract with Michigan. Though Denver is historically the best run organization of the four in question, there is some instability with ownership presently. Unfortunately, there is no Indianapolis Colts gig that will pry Harbaugh out of Michigan easily.
Harbaugh reportedly telling recruits about potential NFL opportunities on the table is commendable, but it is also simultaneously harpooning whatever recruiting momentum his program has after a College Football Playoff appearance.
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