Greg McElroy evaluates validity of NFL rumors surrounding Jim Harbaugh

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has been linked to NFL head coaching vacancies for the past two offseasons. This year, however, the rumors are beginning early.

The Wolverines are only four games in, but Harbaugh has reportedly already had discussions with the Los Angeles Chargers about becoming their head coach in 2024. Although all of Harbaugh’s previous talks with teams the past two years have fallen through, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy isn’t counting out the possibility that this could be the one that sticks.

“When it comes to Jim Harbaugh going to the NFL, I think there’s always validity,” he said on the Always College Football podcast. “Jim Harbaugh has seen his brother win a Super Bowl and Jim Harbaugh was five yards away from potentially winning a Super Bowl. It’s not that he doesn’t love his job at Michigan, but if the opportunity presents itself to go back to the NFL, I think there’s always gonna be validity.”

Harbaugh interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings opening in 2021 but was reportedly never offered the position. He was also a candidate for the Broncos, Colts and Panthers jobs earlier this year.

The coach served a three-game suspension to start this season due to alleged NCAA violations that occurred during the COVID-19 dead period. That was a self-imposed suspension from Michigan that was doled out in hope of lessening the severity of a potential NCAA punishment next season.

That, combined with the evolving nature of college football as a result of the transfer portal and NIL, are a couple of more reasons why Harbaugh might be enticed to jump to the NFL. It doesn’t hurt that the Chargers are already in position to compete with the talent on their roster.

“College football’s a hard job,” McElroy continued. “The portal, roster retention, roster development, NIL. It’s hard. In the NFL, there’s rules. Free agency, draft. NFL’s a lot easier gig for a head coach. By the way, the Chargers, pretty good roster. Obviously a legit, big-time quarterback in Justin Herbert. So I think there’s some validity there potentially, but there always is when it comes to Harbaugh. I think he likes to be wooed and that’s OK because he’s still winning at a really high clip.”

Harbaugh, the brother of Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, was previously the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14 after spending four seasons at Stanford. He enjoyed plenty of on-field success during his tenure, finishing with a record of 44-19 and leading the team to three straight NFC Championship games with one Super Bowl appearance.

Harbaugh has taken the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons and will aim to win his first national title this year. Regardless of how the rest of the year plays out, though, his track record is well-established at this point and an NFL return remains a good possibility.