Jim Harbaugh Departs Michigan For Chargers Containing Most Of The…
As Michigan gets ready to play the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game, two major questions are on everyone’s minds: Where does Michigan rank in the College Football Playoff rankings at the end of the season, and will head coach Jim Harbaugh still be employed by the team?
By now, Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors are almost a yearly ritual. They’re already surfacing again, despite the coach’s declaration during the offseason that he had closed the door on a professional comeback.
Talk hasn’t subsided despite a dramatic season in 2023, which saw Harbaugh suspended (self-imposed) for recruiting violations at the beginning of the season and suspended again (by the Big Ten) over accusations of illegal sign-stealing.
Mike Jones of The Athletic reports that there is “a belief in NFL circles” that Harbaugh, who is 59 years old, would at the very least think about returning to the professional ranks. If that’s true, then the next query is: Which teams could present Harbaugh with a scenario alluring enough to lure him away from his alma mater?
To rank Harbaugh’s top six candidates, let’s examine the teams that are most likely to have head coaching vacancies in 2024 along with their current circumstances.
The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich after only 11 games this season. So with all due respect to interim coach Chris Tabor, they’re likely to have an opening this offseason.
For Carolina, Harbaugh could be the perfect hire. Franchise owner David Tepper has gone to the college ranks before (Matt Rhule), and he isn’t afraid to swing for the proverbial fences. Carolina wants to make it work with rookie quarterback Bryce Young, and Harbaugh has a strong track record of working with quarterbacks.
With the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh coached two very different quarterbacks in Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. He posted a 49-22-1 record between the regular season and playoffs, reached three NFC title games and made one Super Bowl appearance.
For Harbaugh, the question is whether he’d be willing to work for an owner who appears intent on meddling in the football operations and has now fired a coach in-season in consecutive years.
In a vacuum, the Panthers probably aren’t an ideal situation for Harbaugh, but a lot could hinge on how he views Young as a prospect and if Tepper is willing to back off and allow Harbaugh to take the reins and run the show.
There are advantages to the position, though, if Harbaugh thinks he can succeed with Young—without a 2024 first-round pick, Carolina has few options for a replacement—and Tepper can learn to refrain from interfering.
Firstly, Tepper is not afraid to spend a lot of money to achieve his goals. In order to trade up for Young, he sent a ton of player/draft capital, and in an attempt to entice Rhule to leave Baylor, he offered him a seven-year, $62 million contract.
Tepper also said that he wanted to be around “for 20, 30 years” as his next coach.
Harbaugh might be lured in by a sizable financial windfall and job security.