FOX's Jay Glazer: NFL teams aren't concerned about NCAA investigation into Jim Harbaugh

As Michigan prepares for The Game against Ohio State — without head coach Jim Harbaugh due to suspension — the conversation will soon change to what’s next for Harbaugh. He flirted with the NFL over the last two offseasons, and considering he’s preparing to miss his sixth game of the year due to a second suspension, it’s worth wondering if that’ll happen again.

At the onset of the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation, reports indicated the NFL might not be a “safe harbor” for Harbaugh to avoid NCAA discipline in light of the allegations against Michigan and former analyst Connor Stalions. It appears that could be changing, though, according to FOX’s Jay Glazer.

On FOX NFL Kickoff on Thursday, Glazer said he’s noticed a shift in teams’ mindsets and doesn’t think the issues at Michigan will be an issue for Harbaugh if he wants to come back to the league.

“At first, when this whole thing happened with Jim Harbaugh, all the teams I talked to when I asked is this going to affect him if he decides to go and come into the NFL? At first, teams were saying, ‘You know what? We really want to start hearing more about this investigation,'” Glazer said. “But as the last couple weeks have gone, that has just completely games. All the teams I’ve talked to say, ‘You know what? Regardless of what we hear in that investigation, that’s not going to affect the way we look at Jim Harbaugh if he wants to come back and coach in the NFL.

“I actually think for the NFL, they’ve kind of moved on from this.”

Earlier this month, the Big Ten announced it was suspending Harbaugh for the rest of the regular season in light of the allegations. That meant he missed Michigan’s games against Penn State and Maryland, and will also sit out this week’s rivalry game against Ohio State. If the Wolverines make the Big Ten Championship, though, Harbaugh will be able to coach. He can also be on the sidelines for whichever bowl game Michigan draws.

Once the season ends, though, all eyes will be on what Harbaugh does next. Two years ago, he interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings head coach position that ultimately went to Kevin O’Connell. At the time, The Wolverine reported Harbaugh went to Minneapolis thinking he was getting the job. Then, last year, his name came up in connection with the Denver Broncos before they hired Sean Payton.

Harbaugh had success in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, totaling a 44-19-1 record during that time while leading the franchise to two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl XLVII appearance. San Francisco went 8-8 during Harbaugh’s final year at the helm, and he became the head coach at Michigan in 2015 after he and the 49ers parted ways.