No matter what he says or doesn't say over the coming weeks, Jim Harbaugh will be a factor in the NFL coaching market. He confirmed as much himself, when he opened 2022 by swearing off pursuing NFL jobs upon missing the Minnesota Vikings gig following the 2021 season.
“I called Warde and I asked him if he wanted me to be the head coach. And he said, ‘Yes, 100 percent.’ And I said, OK then. That’s what I want to do.'", Harbaugh told the Detroit Free Press in February 2022. "And I told him, ‘Warde, this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one time thing."
It wasn't a one time thing. Harbaugh was a candidate in Denver and Carolina, drawing Michigan through a convoluted press in which he released multiple statements on whether or not he'd return to Michigan as promised before he finally did.
So, ignore Harbaugh's words in the weeks to come and listen to his actions.
We don't have to spell out how Harbaugh's situation has evolved over the past nine months.
Michigan is now at the center of two separate NCAA investigations. Harbaugh missed six of his team's 12 regular season games to serve two 3-game suspensions, but neither of those were leveed by the NCAA. Rulings on the organization into Michigan's alleged covid recruiting violations and the Connor Stalions spy ring are expected in 2024, and it's possible the NCAA could throw rarely-seen "lack of institutional control" and/or "failure to monitor" charges at Michigan/Harbaugh. Not likely, but possible.
Add in the fact that Michigan just defeated Ohio State for a third time in a row, will reach a third straight College Football Playoff over Iowa on Saturday and, by Harbaugh's estimation, has a team loaded enough to break the NFL draft record this spring, and it could be time for Harbaugh to get out while the getting's good. Winning a national title and handing the program off to Sherrone Moore could be the perfect ending to this chapter for all involved. (Counterpoint: Michigan is preparing to make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. Counterpoint to the counterpoint: That extension remains unsigned.)
Having said all that, Harbaugh has been widely linked to the opening in Carolina and the expected opening in Chicago.
The two teams are linked by more than just their reported interest in Harbaugh. Carolina is the worst team in the NFL at 1-10 and now seeking its third coach in as many seasons. With two in-season firings in a row, four different men will coach at least six Panthers games over the past two seasons.
Carolina traded its 2024 first-round pick to Chicago to take Bryce Young, and that pick will likely be the No. 1 selection. Chicago -- who, we should mention, is still led by Matt Eberflus and his 7-22 record -- will have to decide whether or not to replace 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, or to use its two top-10 picks to get support Fields.
Harbaugh played for the Bears from 1987-93, and finished his career in Carolina in 2001.
ESPN, The Athletic and Sports Illustrated have all connected Harbaugh to one or both openings thus far, and more NFL jobs are certain to open as the season winds down.
Prepare for a third season of Jim Harbaugh-NFL rumors, because it's coming. In fact, it's already here.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.