One of the greatest themes as the Michigan Wolverines prepare to face the Washington Huskies in the College Football National Championship is head coach Jim Harbaugh and his future. Speculation persists that he will return to the NFL.
Harbaugh previously served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. He led the 49ers to three consecutive NFC Championship games and Super Bowl XLVII, which he lost against his older brother John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens.
Now, Michigan insider Aaron McCann of the Ann Arbor News and the Wolverine Confidential podcast believes Harbaugh has always wanted to return to the NFL.
“I think Jim Harbaugh wants to get back into the NFL,” McCann said to Sportsnaut. “He’s said as much a couple of years ago when he said there’s still kind of a goal of his to get back and win a Super Bowl.”
Harbaugh’s declared ambition of returning to the NFL and winning a Super Bowl has always been widely discussed. The other was restoring national prominence to his alma mater, Michigan. Harbaugh has an 85-25 record as coach of the Wolverines, three Big Ten titles, and his team is on the verge of earning Michigan’s 12th national championship.
The one thing that will persuade Jim Harbaugh to return to the NFL
What single event may convince Harbaugh to join the NFL right now? On Monday night, would it be a national championship?
“I think for him, it really comes down to getting an offer,” he remarked. “I believe he leaves a franchise that he respects and regards as a good situation.” Regardless of what happens Monday night, I believe he will go after the season.”
But there are other reasons Harbaugh would be eager to accept an NFL offer if he receives one. The first is the ongoing scandal surrounding the Wolverine football program’s improprieties, and the second is the roster’s current situation.
“I think now it’d be the best time and I certainly think the investigation certainly plays a factor, absolutely,” he said. “So if you’re him and you’re looking at the situation as a whole and the potential for your roster, you know most of your roster leaving the NFL after this season, I got to think for him what better time than now to leave giving everything that’s going on with the investigations.”
For weeks, rumors regarding Harbaugh’s return to the NFL have swirled, with recent news that he hired agent Don Yee, who has strong contacts throughout the NFL, including with Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, for whom he secured a return to the NFL last year.
The most commonly mentioned teams interested in Harbaugh are the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers, both of which fired coaches midseason and now have temporary head coaches. Harbaugh’s first coaching position was with Al Davis and the Raiders, and he finished his playing career with the then-San Diego Chargers.
“I think if there was ever a time for Jim Harbaugh to go, it’s probably now,” McCann was quoted as saying. “He understands what it takes to compete at that level.” There are a lot of parallels there. And, to be honest, he’s not growing any younger either. He just turned 60 years old last week, therefore I believe the clock is ticking.”
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