Jim Harbaugh has the Michigan Wolverines within the nationwide championship sport of the Faculty Soccer Playoff towards the Washington Huskies within the first main sports activities occasion of 2024. Whereas Michigan performs for its first nationwide title since its 1997 cut up with Nebraska, rumors connecting Harbaugh to the NFL have grown louder than ever.
Harbaugh obtained a number of suspensions this season. Dishonest allegations have hung over this system within the type of a sign-stealing scheme engineered by former offensive analyst Connor Stalions. As Michigan has stored profitable to place itself within the last faculty soccer sport of the yr, there’s renewed momentum connecting Harbaugh to the NFL after this season.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders each need Harbaugh this season, in keeping with The Athletic, with the coach additionally having curiosity in LA. The Washington Commanders are additionally curious about Harbaugh after lastly firing Ron Rivera as head coach on Black Monday, in keeping with studies. Extra groups might be a part of the fray because the NFL’s end-of-season group interviews play out.
The NFL highlight feels prefer it’s shining brighter than ever on Harbaugh heading into the nationwide championship. In actuality, Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors have been an annual incidence for years.
Newest Jim Harbaugh NFL teaching rumors
- On Monday, January 15 the Los Angeles Chargers introduced that they had accomplished an interview with Harbaugh:
- The Commanders have curiosity in Harbaugh after firing head coach Ron Rivera on Monday, in keeping with Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. Former Golden State Warriors govt Bob Myers is working with the Commanders as an advisor through the offseason, and has reached out to Harbaugh’s agent to gauge his curiosity.
- There’s been rampant hypothesis about Harbaugh going to the Los Angeles Chargers contained in the NFL, in keeping with The Athletic. “They need Harbaugh, and he desires them,” a veteran coach mentioned of the Chargers to The Athletic.
Virtually because the second Jim Harbaugh returned to Ann Arbor to teach his alma mater, the tales surfaced.
No, not tales concerning controversy or suspensions, however reasonably breathless hypothesis about when, not if, Harbaugh would return to the NFL.
Such studies surfaced in the midst of his first yr at Michigan. Throughout the fall of 2015, two potential NFL touchdown spots emerged for his companies: The Miami Dolphins, after they fired Joe Philbin after a 1-3 begin, and the Indianapolis Colts, who was reportedly within the midst of a feud with administration.
Some went so far as to ensure that Harbaugh can be in Indianapolis in 2016, reunited with Andrew Luck. Harbaugh coached Luck at Stanford.
The rumors endured all through October of 2015, forcing Harbaugh to lastly handle them. Bear in mind Michigan’s beautiful loss to Michigan State that yr, on a botched punt through the sport’s last play? The coach felt compelled to handle the NFL rumors after that loss, along with … (/gestures within the common course of every part else he needed to handle after that loss.)
“I received’t touch upon it; it’s disrespectful to the sport,” mentioned Harbaugh on the time. “I have a look at it as disrespectful.”
Sadly for Harbaugh the “disrespectful” rumors had been simply getting began.
As a result of the next season, the cycle continued. An NFL job opened up, and Harbaugh was instantly linked to the spot. This time it was in Los Angeles, the place the Rams parted methods with head coach Jeff Fisher in December of 2016. Would Harbaugh wish to bounce again to the NFC West, with an opportunity to play — and beat — the 49ers twice a season? The storylines wrote themselves. The Harbaugh-to-LA story was thought-about a “very actual chance.”
As soon as extra, Harbaugh pushed again. More durable this time. Chatting with his group, he known as the rumors “lies made up by our enemies:”
“He addressed it to us yesterday,” senior defensive finish Chris Wormley instructed Wolverine247. “I couldn’t see any purpose why he would wish to go away right here anyhow. He loves it right here. I can’t see him leaving anytime quickly.”
Senior defensive sort out Ryan Glasgow, who introduced he’ll play within the Senior Bowl subsequent month on Tuesday, mentioned Harbaugh addressed the rumors vigorously and immediately with the group.
“He mentioned ‘Look guys, quick, candy, to the purpose, I’m not leaving, don’t fear about it’. These are lies made up by our enemies’,” Glasgow mentioned through the group’s bust on Tuesday evening. “It bought the group riled up. We don’t need any enemies infiltrating our fortress.”
Shortly, 2016 turned 2017, and the cycle started anew.
Michigan started the 2017 season with four-straight wins, rising to No. 7 within the rankings. However losses to Michigan State and Penn State over the course of three weeks in October put an enormous dent of their aspirations for the season. They climbed again into the top-25, however completed the yr with three-straight losses, two to Wisconsin and Ohio State (a pair of top-10 ranked groups) after which to South Carolina within the Outback Bowl.
However as Michigan’s season wound down, the NFL rumors kicked up once more. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports activities outlined a lot of touchdown sports activities for Harbaugh, writing that “he’s hardly off the NFL radar since returning to school teaching, and a few near the coach imagine a return to the NFL in some unspecified time in the future is inevitable.”
Studies even surfaced of a possible commerce between the 49ers and the Cleveland Browns for Harbaugh again within the fall of 2014, which the coach finally nixed as a result of he thought higher alternatives can be accessible on the finish of the season. However with the Browns limping to an 0-16 document, parting methods with Hue Jackson was a chance, which resurfaced the Harbaugh-to-Cleveland concept. Different choices such because the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders had been talked about.
So, forward of the Outback Bowl, Harbaugh carried out what had grow to be an annual ritual, and brushed the NFL rumors apart.
“That’s like warmed up oatmeal,” Harbaugh mentioned on the time. “(I can examine) it to one thing else. When it’s rehashed or warmed up, it’s not good anymore. Oatmeal. That’s the very first thing that involves thoughts.
“I’m not a giant fan of warmed up oatmeal.”
You’ll be able to in all probability see the sample forming, so let’s flip to 2018. Michigan misplaced at Notre Dame to open the season, however rattled off 10-straight wins to enhance to 10-1, forward of their annual conflict with Ohio State. The Wolverines had been ranked No. 4 for that sport, with the Buckeyes coming in because the No. 10 group within the nation.
Ohio State hung 62 on the Wolverines within the one hundred and fifteenth installment of “The Sport,” because the Buckeyes received by a last rating of 62-39. Whereas each Ohio State and Michigan completed with 8-1 information in Huge Ten play — which made the groups co-champions of the Huge Ten East, Michigan’s first division title — Ohio State went on to the Huge Ten Championship Sport, whereas the Wolverines headed to the Peach Bowl.
After the loss to Ohio State, the NFL rumors began:
Harbaugh once more shot down the rumors, linking them to an try to harm him and Michigan throughout recruiting season.
“It is a choreographed message that comes up at the moment yearly earlier than signing day,” Harbaugh instructed ESPN on the time. “It’s folks spreading messages to additional their very own private agenda. However I’m on document proper right here, proper now: I’m not going anyplace. I’m staying at Michigan. Now we have large plans right here, and there’s lots we wish to accomplish.
“I can’t be any extra clear about this — it’s not true. I’m not going anyplace.”
The sample performed out once more in 2019. The Wolverines started the yr ranked within the top-10, suffered just a few losses through the season, misplaced to Ohio State, and Harbaugh was compelled to dismiss rumors of an “exit technique” and a return to the NFL. After Joel Klatt of FOX Sports activities speculated that Harbaugh may eve retire, studies emerged that the coach was eying an “exit technique” from Michigan, and that his representatives had been contacting NFL groups.
The coach dismissed these studies in a letter to folks of Michigan gamers:
Then in 2020 every part modified.
Actually, nicely, every part.
COVID-19 upended the world, truncated the Huge Ten season, and Michigan limped to a 2-4 end. That quieted the NFL rumors for some time.
However not for good.
As a result of in 2021 Michigan was good. Excellent. The Wolverines started the yr unranked, however stormed by the Huge Ten East, rising to No. 6 within the rankings forward of an enormous sport at Michigan State, when the Spartans had been ranked No. 8.
Michigan misplaced that sport, however solely fell to No. 7 within the rankings. They received their subsequent three video games, organising an enormous contest towards Ohio State in that yr’s installment of “The Sport.” The Wolverines had been No. 5, and the Buckeyes had been No. 2.
That yr in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh bought his large win over Ohio State.
That victory catapulted Michigan into the Huge Ten Championship Sport, and their ensuing win over Iowa put the Wolverines into the Faculty Soccer Playoff for the primary time in class historical past. Whereas Michigan misplaced to Georgia by a last rating of 34-11, the Wolverines had been again.
So too had been the “Harbaugh to the NFL” rumors.
Solely this time, they had been extra than simply rumors. Harbaugh interviewed for the vacant Minnesota Vikings job.
“There was a tugging at me that I used to be as soon as that near a Tremendous Bowl and I didn’t get it. Some NFL jobs got here open. I used to be contacted by the (Minnesota) Vikings,” Harbaugh instructed Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press again in February of 2022.
“For higher or for worse, it was one thing I needed to discover. I went in considering, ‘I’m gonna have one hundred pc conviction on this, and in the event that they (Minnesota) have one hundred pc conviction on this, then it’s one thing I’m gonna do.”
Nonetheless, through the course of Harbaugh determined his coronary heart was nonetheless in Ann Arbor.
“I known as Warde (Manuel, the Michigan athletic director) and I requested him if he needed me to be the pinnacle coach. And he mentioned, ‘Sure, one hundred pc.’ And I mentioned, OK then. That’s what I wish to do.’ “And I instructed him, ‘Warde, this is not going to be a reoccurring theme yearly. This was a one-time factor,” Harbaugh mentioned to Albom.
Solely … the rumors returned through the 2022 season. Michigan made one other run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff — beating Ohio State once more — but misplaced to TCU. Because the Wolverines season unfolded, story after story was written about Harbaugh making a return to the NFL. It was additionally outlined that the deal Harbaugh inked with Michigan after his interview with the Vikings contained only a $3 million buyout in yr one, which could make it the perfect time for Harbaugh to depart.
Harbaugh mentioned forward of the Fiesta Bowl that he can be “enthusiastically” teaching Michigan in 2023, however the loss to the Horned Frogs kicked the rumors into overdrive. The Athletic reported that it could be a “carried out deal” if Harbaugh was provided an NFL job, and Harbaugh reportedly had a “dialog” — however not a technical interview — with Carolina Panthers proprietor David Tepper in early 2023.
Then got here studies that Harbaugh had met with the brand new possession group of the Denver Broncos concerning their vacant head coach place:
Broncos proprietor Greg Penner and College of Michigan soccer coach Jim Harbaugh met final week in Ann Arbor to debate Denver’s head teaching place with none deal materializing, league sources instructed ESPN.https://t.co/UD6sevUASR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2023
Finally, the Broncos went with Sean Payton, the Panthers went with Frank Reich, and Harbaugh was again at Michigan for the 2023 season. He put out a press release to that impact early in 2023. “I like the relationships that I’ve at Michigan — coaches, workers, households, administration, president Santa Ono and particularly the gamers and their households,” Harbaugh mentioned in a press release. “My coronary heart is on the College of Michigan. I as soon as heard a sensible man say, ‘Don’t attempt to out-happy, completely happy.’ Go Blue!”
However to say this has been a typical season for the Wolverines can be deceptive. In any case, Harbaugh has served a pair of suspensions, and the Wolverines are on the cusp of profitable their first title with him on the helm.
May this now be the yr he makes the leap again to the NFL?
In the event you look across the present NFL panorama, there are actually some choices for him ought to he entertain a return to the league. The Panthers are once more in search of a head coach, and Tepper might take one other run at Harbaugh. The Los Angeles Chargers are one other touchdown spot, and Harbaugh could possibly be enticed by the prospect to teach Justin Herbert. Then there are some potential touchdown spots that would open up within the subsequent few days, together with the Chicago Bears, the place Harbaugh was as soon as a participant.
And perhaps, simply perhaps, the New England Patriots.
Michigan may suppose that is the yr that Harbaugh makes the leap. The varsity is reportedly trying to ink Harbaugh to a brand new 10-year deal, however one which comprises a clause the place the NFL is a no-go for the coach for 2024. Harbaugh was requested concerning the NFL rumors forward of the Rose Bowl, and largely evaded the query:
He did the identical after Michigan’s thrilling win over Alabama. “My future consists of a contented flight again to Ann Arbor, Michigan,” Harbaugh mentioned after beating the Crimson Tide. “Can’t wait.”
Within the days because the Rose Bowl, extra tales have emerged about Harbaugh doubtlessly heading to the NFL. Talking with Wealthy Eisen final week, NFL Community reporter Tom Pelissero outlined the choices that will await Harbaugh within the NFL. Then on the ultimate Sunday of the NFL common season, fellow NFL Community insider Ian Rapoport made it clear that a number of NFL groups will probably be , and that Harbaugh will probably be “open” to the transfer.
In fact, as we simply outlined this isn’t precisely new floor for Harbaugh. Solely this time it feels just a little totally different.
Why?
Bear in mind just a few thousand phrases in the past, when Harbaugh as soon as shot down studies of a return to the NFL by noting that he didn’t have “illustration?”
Over the weekend it was reported that now, he does. Within the type of Don Yee, an agent whose shoppers embrace Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
So, is that this the yr the rumors lastly come true?
We’d know extra in just a few quick days.