JJ McCarthy encourages Jim Harbaugh to leave for NFL if he chooses

Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy wants head coach Jim Harbaugh to do what’s best for him, even if that means leaving the Wolverines. With NFL coaching rumors swirling around Harbaugh, McCarthy addressed the elephant in the room.

“That kind of goes back to what I was saying about focusing on the step ahead and not focusing on that,” McCarthy said. “That’s so out of our control that Coach Harb mentioned last year when he added the Minnesota talks, yeah, we’re happy for him.

“If he wants to take that opportunity, go do it. That is one of his dreams, and he’s done it before. But still, that’s a tremendous honor to be in that position. We’ve got to focus on what we have to do. I think we’ve done a good job of that.”

Harbaugh is reportedly in line to get $11 million per year for the next five years, according to reporting from Sports Illustrated’s Richard Johnson. The lone hang-up, Johnson reports, is Michigan wanting “a commitment in writing from Harbaugh that he will not pursue an NFL job this cycle.”

Harbaugh was the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach from 2010-14. While there, he led the organization to the 2012 Super Bowl, where he lost to his brother John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. Jim Harbaugh left the NFL for Michigan after the 2014 campaign.

Harbaugh has found immense success at Michigan, particularly in recent years. Michigan has won the Big Ten and reached the CFP three years in a row. Nonetheless, Harbaugh’s success hasn’t come without its setbacks.

Issues force Jim Harbaugh out of Ann Arbor?

The 2023 season began with Harbaugh facing a self-imposed three-game suspension related to NCAA violations that occurred during the COVID-19 dead period. After Harbaugh served his suspension he rejoined the team, only for more drama to surface.

The NCAA informed Michigan that it had received credible evidence of sign-stealing operation, one that was apparently headed by staffer Connor Stalions. The sign-stealing investigation quickly became the talk of college football for weeks, to the point that the Big Ten was considering taking punitive action on Harbaugh.

Eventually, a three-game suspension was settled on and Harbaugh missed the final three games of the regular season before returning for the Big Ten Championship Game. Harbaugh’s recent controversies have led many to believe he may want to escape the NCAA.

While Harbaugh will have to announce his decision eventually, he only has one goal in mind now. On Jan. 1, Michigan and Alabama will face off at 5 p.m. ET in the Rose Bowl. The winner will advance to the national championship.