Michigan Wolverines Athletic Director Warde Manuel is not really surprised that Jim Harbaugh is garnering plenty of NFL interest. After all, who wouldn’t want him as head coach?
Harbaugh just guided the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff National Championship title on Monday, with the JJ McCarthy-led squad taking down the Washington Huskies 34-31 in their showdown at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
Of course one of the biggest topics after the game was Harbaugh’s future with the team. The 60-year-old tactician has actually been linked with a number of NFL squads over the course of the regular season, and most especially in recent weeks with some franchises firing their head coaches.
Manuel acknowledged those interests in Harbaugh, emphasizing that the coach has proven and accomplished a lot to warrant those calls.
“The man went to a Super Bowl. (He) won a conference championship, went to a Super Bowl, went back to a conference championship,” Manuel told reporters at NRG Stadium after the Wolverines’ win, via M Live.
“How many did they fire today? That’s like an annual thing. If I was in the pros, I would want to talk to him too because of what he accomplished.”
Warde Manuel, however, highlighted that he’ll do his best to keep Jim Harbaugh as the Michigan Wolverines’ head coach. But regardless of what happens next, he shared that he is “proud” of him and the legacy he has cemented with the team.
“It doesn’t matter (about) the stuff in the past. It doesn’t matter what happens in the future, He’s always going to be somebody I’m proud of, who coached the University of Michigan and led this team. And if he decides that he wants another opportunity to coach in the pros, then I’m going to be happy for him, sad for us, and we’re going to move on and find the next person to lead,” Manuel furthered.
It remains to be seen what Harbaugh does next. He has yet to accept the recent $125 million contract extension offer that the Wolverines gave him, which has only fueled speculations that he could leave.
Whatever he does, though, there’s no denying that he has already solidified his place in Wolverines history.
Jim Harbaugh Refuses To Talk About Michigan Wolverines, NFL Future
For what it’s worth, Jim Harbaugh was mum about his coaching plans when asked about it following the Michigan Wolverines’ title win.
In his postgame presser after they took the 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies, Harbaugh even requested for reporters to not ask him questions with regards to his future since he wants to only celebrate with his players.
“I just want to enjoy this. I hope you can give me that. Can a guy have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future?” Harbaugh said.
It doesn’t seem like Harbaugh has made a final decision on what he plans to do next. With that being said, fans and experts alike will probably need to wait for a few more days before the head coach speaks on his plans.
For now, maybe everyone can let the coach and his team to celebrate.
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