Report: Jim Harbaugh, NFL conversations could happen immediately after national championship

ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks it could be a real conversation regarding Jim Harbaugh and the NFL once the national championship is in the books.

Schefter rattled off three teams that could be interested in the head coach’s services. That comes on the heels of a reported four teams interested in Harbaugh per Pro Football Talk.

Schefter explained what this process will look like as Michigan goes through the national championship Monday.

“I expect that there are going to be NFL teams that want to talk with Jim Harbaugh and I think we start with the Chargers,” Schefter said Monday on Get Up. “I think the Chargers know Jim Harbaugh for the time that he played quarterback there. They need somebody that can come in and change the culture, build a program and work with Justin Herbert. And I think Jim Harbaugh will be on the Chargers radar after this game.” 

The Atlanta Falcons were next up in the Harbaugh sweepstakes, according to Schefter. Atlanta just fired head coach Arthur Smith.

“We saw the Falcons fire Arthur Smith last night, it would not be surprising if the Falcons were interested in talking with Jim Harbaugh,” Schefter said. “We’ve already heard about the Raiders having some level of interest. So there will be three teams right there and this is very early in the process that teams would have an interest in talking with Jim Harbaugh.”

Jim Harbaugh could return to the NFL, if it falls into place

For Harbaugh, he wanted to return to Michigan and put the program at the top of the sport. He can do so with a win Monday night.

But it’s after that is where there are questions about his future in Ann Arbor or a journey back to the pros.

“Obviously he wants to walk away tonight with a national championship but it doesn’t change what he’s done for that program,” Schefter said. “And it doesn’t change the fact that other people have said the NCAA could be coming after him next year, he could face more discipline.

“So to me, it has always been up to an NFL team, whether it is the Chargers or the Falcons or the Raiders or somebody else to come at him and make him an attractive enough offer, with a situation that’s set up the way that he wants.” 

Nothing can really happen regarding Harbaugh until Michigan gets through the national championship game. After that? All bets are off.

“And if those pieces fall into place, if all of those teams have some level of interest … then yes, I think he wouldn’t be interested in going,” Schefter said. “But it’s still early in the process. He’s focused on the game, but after tonight’s game once we get to this time tomorrow, this will be the conversation going forward.”