Is Jim Harbaugh headed to NFL?
Black Monday could turn into Green Tuesday for Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh: With five head-coaching vacancies and maybe more on the way — we’re looking at you, Robert Kraft — the Wolverines coach could be headed back to the NFL.
Harbaugh now has a national championship on his resume after Michigan’s 34-13 victory over Washington on Monday night, but that might be the biggest reason to leave — leverage and demand.
OK, and money. Lots of it. Harbaugh was forced to take a 50% pay cut to keep his job in 2020, and was suspended twice this season for recruiting violations and cheating allegations. Who needs that? NFL coaches don’t worry about recruiting violations and they don’t take pay cuts.
But after Monday night’s win, Harbaugh ducked the question about his future.
“I just want to enjoy this,” he said. “I hope you give me that. Can I have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future?”
In the early moments of Monday night’s game, Harbaugh’s brother John — whose Ravens are a favorite to reach the Super Bowl — sneaked down the sidelines and gave him a hug. John whispered something in Jim’s ear, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if it was “Come back to the NFL and leave all this other crap behind.”
The brothers, you’ll recall, met in the Super Bowl in 2013, with John’s Baltimore Ravens beating Jim’s San Francisco 49ers. Just as the world is tiring of Jason, Travis and Mom Kelce — and Taylor Swift — the Harbaughs and their dad could slip right into the void.
Harbaugh will be the hottest name in the NFL hiring market after his 15-0 season with the Wolverines and his previous success in the NFL with the 49ers, who went to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl under him. His recent hiring of agent Don Yee increased speculation that he’s mulling a return. Where could Harbaugh land?
• Las Vegas Raiders: If owner Mark Davis doesn’t keep interim coach Antonio Pierce, he’ll be looking for a head coach and a GM. The Raiders announced Monday that the GM interviews will begin. But if they eventually hire Harbaugh, wouldn’t he want full control of the football operations?
• Los Angeles Chargers: Harbaugh would be an intriguing option after he
played two seasons for the Chargers late in his career and started his collegiate coaching career at the University of San Diego. The new front office and coaching staff have a franchise quarterback in place, but are also nearly $35 million over the salary cap.
Former NFL receiver Roddy White tweeted: “Jim going to Cali after this win . ... Justin Herbert, u about to get a good coach.”
• Dallas Cowboys: Owner Jerry Jones gave head coach Mike Mccarthy a pat on the back after a 12-win season, then added: “We’ll see how each game in the playoffs go.” Who is Jones’ Plan B: Bill Belichick or Harbaugh?
• And others: Will Nick Sirianni survive in Philadelphia if the Eagles keep choking in a wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Bucs? Who would follow Belichick in New England if his begging to keep his job falls on Robert Kraft’s deaf ears? What if the Buffalo Bills make an early postseason exit?
Harbaugh said he would keep his promise to get a “15-0″ tattoo.
“I’m going to put it on my shoulder — I don’t know if it’s my left or right yet,” he said. “I’m a right-handed quarterback. I’ll probably get it on my right. And then an ‘M’ that’s a maize and blue ‘M.’ Also that signifies a thousand in Roman numerals. Can’t tell you what that means to us, too, that we reached 1,000 wins this year.”
Fourth-year defensive end Braiden Mcgregor said he wants Harbaugh to have the future he wants.
“If that is his decision at the end of the day or he does get a job, happy for him, hopefully he can go win a Super Bowl,” he said. “But if he comes back, happy that he comes back, let’s try to win another [title].”
If Harbaugh lets the NFL know he’s interested, calls likely will come from every corner of the league.