Jim Harbaugh and the LA Chargers moved within "striking distance" of a deal on Tuesday, and as Wednesday afternoon turns into Wednesday evening, no deal has been struck.
And so there are two natural questions, assuming a news Bolt doesn't hit as soon as I hit 'publish' on this story, are "Why?" and "What's next?"
On Tuesday, I speculated that Harbaugh might be more willing to bend on certain stipulations given how close he came to getting the Minnesota Vikings job before ultimately missing out at the last minute back in 2022. And that could be the case.
But it's equally possible that Harbaugh and the Chargers are not in agreement on certain staff members, particularly as to who will take the open GM job. Friction with GM Trent Baalke pushed Harbaugh out of San Francisco faster than the on-field results dictated and so, given his leverage elsewhere, it makes sense that Harbaugh may not want to compromise on such an essential position.
Speaking of leverage, the Chargers are not the only NFL team holding a ticket in the Harbaugh Sweepstakes.
The Falcons will not be conducting a second interview with Jim Harbaugh today, but a second one could be upcoming, according to a source.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) January 24, 2024
Harbaugh could also simply return to Michigan, where things continue apace.
The Wolverine reports that Michigan has continued to sweeten the most-drawn-out contract extension in college football history. The site reports that Harbaugh could get a "Bill Self deal."
The contract would not only make him the highest-paid coach in college football today, it would include escalator clauses if conditions change. Furthermore, like the deal Self got at Kansas after the NCAA sniffed around the Jayhawks basketball program, that prevented KU from firing him for cause in the event the NCAA punished the program, and that reduced his salary by 50 percent if the NCAA suspended him. (Harbaugh has, of course, already served two 3-game suspensions for each ongoing investigation into Michigan football.)
Finally, like Self, Harbaugh's contract would essentially give him tenure atop Michigan football. It'd be a rolling 6-year contract.
Who's got it better than Jim? Noooboddddy.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.