Jim Harbaugh just lost his sixth straight bowl game at Michigan and now rumors that he could leave for the NFL are popping up. Here’s what to know.
Credit to Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan Wolverines head coach has done what many people didn’t think was possible just a few years ago. After 10-win seasons began seeming stale, Harbaugh has led the program to two straight Big Ten Championships and two straight College Football Playoff berths.
With a loss to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, though, Michigan lost its sixth straight bowl game under Harbaugh, which has left some people wondering if he can get the Wolverines the next step. But as things are currently shaping up, there’s a chance that he might not be in Ann Arbor to take that chance.
In the wake of the Broncos firing head coach Nathaniel Hackett, amid other firings as well, Harbaugh potentially returning to the NFL has started to gain steam again. Here’s everything we know about the situation to this point.
Jim Harbaugh rumors: Everything to know about Michigan HC leaving for NFL
Jan. 3, 2023 – Report: Panthers interested in Jim Harbaugh
Carolina is interested in Jim Harbaugh. The Panthers offer a blank slate. Harbaugh can do whatever he wants at the quarterback position — including draft one this year if he wants. That sort of freedom — to build a team in his own image — is rare for a head coach. If anything, it mirrors what he’s done at Michigan, which should bring some level of comfort.
Jan. 2, 2023 – Report: Jim Harbaugh would leave for NFL if offered
The big hammer to drop amid the Broncos connection came on Monday, two days after the Michigan loss to TCU, as college football insiders Nicole Auerbach and Bruce Feldman, along with Michigan writer Austin Meek, of The Athletic reported that Harbaugh would leave for the NFL if he was offered. Their sources, ones called “close to Harbaugh”, stated so much as to say it would be a “done deal” if an NFL team offered him the job.
Jan. 1, 2023 – Broncos have reached out to Jim Harbaugh about vacancy
According to a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Broncos have reached out to Harbaugh and his camp about replacing Hackett as the head coach in Denver. The fit has been rumored for a week or so prior as the belief is that Harbaugh’s success with the 49ers in his previous NFL tenure, along with his disciplinary nature in relation to handling Russell Wilson moving forward, would make him an ideal candidate to take the job.
Dec. 19, 2022 – Colts mentioned as potential Harbaugh destination
The Colts fired Frank Reich in early November and replaced him with former center Jeff Saturday as the interim. However, the long-term replacement in Indianapolis has not yet been set.
In discussing the future head coaching candidates, though, Colts insider Zak Keefer of The Athletic (subscription required) made a note that he would be “surprised” if team owner Jim Irsay didn’t make a heavy push for Jim Harbaugh and if he didn’t have him at the top of his list of candidates to fill the void. Harbaugh played quarterback for the Colts from 1994-97.
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