Report: Jim Harbaugh plans to leave Michigan if offered NFL position

Amid rumors of Jim Harbaugh being linked to a potential NFL return, the Michigan coach reportedly plans to accept a new job if he’s offered one, according to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach, Bruce Feldman and Austin Meek. 

The offer that could be on the table to sway Harbaugh back to the pros? The Denver Broncos. 

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also reported the Broncos reached out to Harbaugh to talk about their interest in the head coach.

The Wolverine’s Chris Balas reported Harbaugh could end up staying at the school due to administration preparing raises for the head coach and staff.

“Sources at Michigan informed TheWolverine.com last week they were preparing raises and extensions for several on the U-M coaching staff — including Harbaugh — as well as many in the athletic department,” Balas wrote. “As it stands now, Harbaugh’s buyout is only $3 million.

“The same sources also said Harbaugh is now working with an agent. That’s not to say he is actively seeking an NFL job — on the contrary, in fact. He said weeks ago he planned to be back at Michigan in 2023.”

Harbaugh signed a five-year, $36.7 million extension with the school in February 2022 following the team’s first Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance under his watch.

Last year, Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings but the two sides could not come to an agreement and mutually decided it was better for the coach to return to Ann Arbor and the Vikings ultimately landed on Kevin O’Connell last year.

Harbaugh was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14. In those four seasons, Harbaugh went 44-19-1 and made the playoffs three times. In his second season with the 49ers, Harbaugh took them to the Super Bowl where they would come up just shy of the win against the Baltimore Ravens.

Now through eight seasons at Michigan, Harbaugh is 74-25 with two Big Ten titles and two playoff appearances, but is 1-6 in bowl games.