It’s that time of year again.
Now that Michigan’s season is over following a 51-45 loss to TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the annual rumor mill surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s National Football League aspirations has begun.
On Sunday, the day after the Wolverines’ exit from the College Football Playoffs, reports surfaced regarding the Denver Broncos intentions to possibly interview Harbaugh for their head coaching vacancy. First-year coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired on December 26 after a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His record was 4-11 in a year that was also Russell Wilson’s first season with the team. Since then, the list of interested teams has grown to include the Indianapolis Colts, while the Carolina Panthers may be in play as well.
College football insiders close to the situation have said that if Harbaugh receives an NFL offer, he will accept it.
But will he? Last year, following Michigan’s 34-11 loss to Georgia in the playoffs after the abysmal 2020 campaign, Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings. He did not land the job, and said that this recurring cycle of ‘Will he? Won’t he?’ would come to an end.
It’s been the same story following each of Harbaugh’s eight seasons at the helm of the Michigan program. And it’s fair to speculate. He spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014 in which he coached the team to three-straight NFC Championship games, winning one and facing his brother John Harbaugh and the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. He posted a 44-19-1 record in the NFL. Friction within the 49ers front office ultimately led to Harbaugh’s departure, which in turn led to his return to Michigan on December 30, 2014.
The truth is, it’s hard to predict what Harbaugh will do.
He clearly loves the University of Michigan. Harbaugh is a product of the Bo Schembechler regime, meaning he values beating Ohio State (amongst other rivals) and winning the Big Ten Championship more than winning a national title. He has now accomplished both those things in back-to-back years. His record at Michigan is 74-25.
But Harbaugh is also a competitor, and has a desire to chase a Super Bowl ring. The NFL allows a 59-year old coach to focus on the game itself without the added hassle of recruiting in college ball. The rise of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) may also lower his desire to stay at Michigan. Furthermore, he has ties to the Colts, having played for them from 1994-1997.
The three open NFL jobs, however, may not be all that attractive.
The Colts (4-11) and Panthers (6-10) are both rebuild projects. The Broncos (4-12) have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Wilson and a roster many thought would be competing in the playoffs this season. Hackett took the fall, but the 34-year old star has shared much of the blame for the lackluster season in Denver. Nobody knows what Denver is or what that team could be.
Meanwhile, Michigan is an early favorite to win the Big Ten again in 2023 as the Wolverines will return many of the pieces that made up this year’s championship squad.
All in all, this article exists to say we don’t actually know anything. While reports and insiders may claim to know what Harbaugh is thinking, we’ve all been wrong before. It’s basically just wait and see what happens.
