Jim Harbaugh responds to report of Michigan pulling contract extension

Jim Harbaugh responded to reports of his potential contract extension being pulled amid the Michigan sign stealing investigation.

The report stated Harbaugh was set to become the highest paid coach in the Big Ten. But with the NCAA’s current investigation, it was off the table.

Michigan did not provide comment on the situation, but Harbaugh offered a little more than a tidbit in response to the report.

“I wouldn’t say that’s accurate,” Harbaugh said, via Anthony Broome of TheWolverine.

Moving forward, it’s all about Purdue this weekend, per the Michigan coach.

“We’re in an onward mode,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a one track mind that I’m modeling and I see it throughout the program.”

Harbaugh also reiterated his statement amid the NCAA investigation.

“I was forthright in the statement right away,” Harbaugh said in response to questions about if a coach should know everything going on in the program speak for themselves.

The Wall Street Journal cited a person familiar with the matter that the Michigan brass rescinded that potential contract offer.

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ESPN added a bit more detail, noting that the Wolverines contract push accelerated the week of Oct. 8 prior to the NCAA investigation beginning. According to ESPN, the situation is “more on hold pending the NCAA review.”

Jim Harbaugh potential contract extension pulled?

The WSJ reported that school officials do not comment on employment contracts until they are completed and fully executed.

The news is just the latest in a fascinating tenure for Harbaugh at Michigan. Harbaugh had been feeling quite a bit of pressure at Michigan just a few years back, even seeing his pay cut during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Then he finally broke through, with Michigan making back-to-back playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022.

Even currently, despite the off-the-field drama, the Michigan program sits at No. 2 in the country, 8-0 on the season. While the back end of the schedule is tough, Michigan is very much in position to potentially earn a third straight College Football Playoff berth along with another Big Ten title.

The question as to what will happen to Michigan while the investigation is ongoing is a fascinating one, given Michigan’s positioning in the College Football Playoff race.

The initial CFP rankings will debut on Tuesday night, and you can bet that will be a topic of conversation.

“I think you just nailed what is the subplot of Tuesday night,” ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show on Sunday. “The committee chair will be asked about it. You know they’ve already got the typed-up answer and I doubt it’s going to tell us anything we don’t already know.”