The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a national championship victory and everyone in Ann Arbor is waiting on head coach Jim Harbaugh to make a decision on his future.
Today, the 2023 Michigan football team celebrated with its fans with a parade through the streets surrounding the school that ended with a ceremony in the basketball arena.
As Jim Harbaugh sat there, smiling and taking it all in, reports began to heat up that it feels more and more like the Michigan head coach is heading back to the NFL, where he led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl before returning to the college ranks to revitalize his alma mater.
Harbaugh is set to meet with the Los Angeles Chargers next week and is also drawing interest from the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL.com.
Saturday morning’s report also says Harbaugh has told associates “there’s a real possibility” he could leave Michigan for the Chargers job.
Jim Harbaugh told the Free Press on Friday his new agent, Don Yee, was “working hard.” The NFL.com report also says the school continues its negotiations in an effort to sign Harbaugh to a contract extension.
Many believe Harbaugh will be headed to the NFL following the national championship game victory, but the Michigan Wolverines are not going to let him go without a fight.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Michigan offered Harbaugh a 10-year deal worth $125 million back in December. That would make him one of the sport’s highest-paid coaches.
Jim Harbaugh’s current contract runs through 2026, though, based on this, it’s clear the program wants to hold onto him for the foreseeable future.
One of the key things to note here is that this deal would include terms that would not allow Harbaugh to entertain an NFL offer during the 2024 season. That would not, however, stop him from pursuing an NFL job in 2025.
This isn’t the only thing being offered to Harbaugh, though. According to the report from Rapoport, there is also a deal for a shorter, unspecified amount of time on the table worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $11 million per year.
Michigan Wolverines AD Makes Massive Jim Harbaugh Announcement Following Parade, Crowd Erupts
Despite all the Speculation and rumors about Harbaugh lining up NFL interviews and being the favorite to take the Chargers job, Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel specifically addressed the elephant in the room in the arena filled with fans, and Harbaugh himself sitting right next to him.
“I’m doing everything everything to get this man a new contract,” Manuel while pointing back to Harbaugh.
Michigan AD, Warde Manuel to the crowd about Jim Harbaugh
“I am working on getting this man a new contract “ pic.twitter.com/TPGyyWocFn
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 14, 2024
The crowd absolutely erupted.
Clearly Manuel has already presented Jim Harbaugh with a few contract options to stay with the Michigan Wolverines, but perhaps with the NFL rumors heating up more and more, perhaps Manuel will pull some late magic to retain Harbaugh in Ann Arbor.
Harbaugh does return to the NFL this year, he might not escape a suspension connected to any punishments levied on him by the NCAA for the sign stealing scandal earlier this season. The NFL said earlier this year that it would not serve as a “safe harbor” for Harbaugh, though the league is not under any obligation to honor punishments from the NCAA.
Potential landing spots that could make sense for Harbaugh include the Bears, Panthers, and Chargers, though the list of suitors would grow if Harbaugh goes all-in on a return to the NFL.
Clearly the Michigan Wolverines don’t want to lose him and it’s apparent their AD is pulling out all stops to keep him.
