Jim Harbaugh: Michigan head coach signs with new agent, Don Yee

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has hired Don Yee to be his agent. The duo says Yee has deep NFL ties, representing the likes of Tom Brady and current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton.

An interesting move for Harbaugh as rumors of him leaving Ann Arbor in favor of the NFL will now only intensify.

“Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has hired football agent Don Yee to represent him, sources tell me and @PeteThamel,” Schefter said in a tweet. “Amongst others, Yee represents Tom Brady and Sean Payton and has deep NFL ties.”

Harbaugh has a ton of past success in the NFL, reaching multiple NFC Championships and one Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that the Los Angeles Chargers are doing preliminary work on Harbaugh to replace Brandon Staley, who was fired midseason.

“This is a name that is buzzing in league circles as a potential head coaching candidate,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Asking around I do believe the Chargers have at least put out feelers, done some preliminary work on Harbaugh. So that could be an option for him too.”

Chicago has long been viewed as a potential landing spot for Harbaugh. He has ties to the organization from his playing days. However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Bears will be keeping Matt Eberflus for the 2024 season, crossing Harbaugh’s name off the list for the time being.

Harbaugh’s current contract runs through the 2026 season but he has been working on a new one with Michigan for quite some time. Multiple details have caused a massive delay, with one of them being Harbaugh potentially leaving for the NFL.

The other is Michigan having multiple NCAA investigations open on the program. They recently received their notice of allegations for a recruiting violation occurring during COVID-19, while the sign-stealing scandal is still at the forefront.

All of this while Michigan is still alive to win a national championship. Their College Football Playoff journey will kick off Monday in Pasadena, facing off against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Could it be the final game coached at Michigan by Harbaugh? Potentially. Some time could pass before a move is even made, with the NFL coaching cycle getting started for another few weeks.

But hiring an agent with “deep NFL ties” will not ease anybody’s mind in Ann Arbor.