Bruce Feldman gives prediction for odds Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan for NFL

Speculation has been swirling since the Athletic college football reporter Bruce Feldman revealed that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh might consider leaving the program for the NFL. Feldman told the Rich Eisen Show that the odds Harbaugh leaves are shockingly high.

“I honestly think it’s 50-50 right now, I honestly think it’s that much of a real thing,” Feldman said.

Brother of Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh has previous NFL coaching experience. He was with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14. In those four years, he had a 44-19-1 record and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012.

Feldman listed the Las Vegas Raiders as a potential destination. Harbaugh got his coaching start with the Raiders in 2002 as the quarterbacks coach. Rich Bisaccia is serving as Las Vegas’ interim head coach after Jon Gruden resigned earlier this year. It’s unclear at this point if the Raiders are going to retain Bisaccia or not.

The Chicago Bears could be another option considering he played there from 1987-93. Rumors are swirling about Bears coach Matt Nagy’s job status, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Chicago could fire Nagy after its Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Harbaugh just wrapped up his seventh year at Michigan after taking over at his alma mater in 2015. In 14 seasons at the collegiate level, he has a 119-51 record, including a 61-24 mark with Michigan.

ESPN insider names candidates to replace Harbaugh amid rumors

With rumors circulating that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh could draw interest from multiple NFL teams this offseason, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg names Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as a name to watch if anything happens.

“(O’Brien) would have been a serious candidate after the 2020 season if Michigan and Harbaugh parted ways,” Rittenberg posted on Twitter.

Bill O’Brien offers Michigan an interesting option with two years of experience in the Big Ten. He helped bring Penn State back from the brink in 2012 and 2013 before leaving for the Houston Texans. After his firing, O’Brien signed on with Nick Saban’s staff as offensive coordinator. He helped lead Bryce Young to a Heisman Trophy season.

Rittenberg also named Michigan offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach Josh Gattis and running back coach Mike Hart as potential internal candidates provided Harbaugh’s departure.

Gattis is also a former Alabama assistant, working as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2018 before taking over at Michigan. Hart provides an unknown after one season at Michigan, never working as a coordinator in his first decade in coaching.

On3’s Nick Shultz contributed to this report.