Troy Aikman hopes to see Jim Harbaugh coach in the NFL in 2024

The NFL world and all the Michigan football fans are waiting with bated breath for what Jim Harbaugh will be doing during the 2024 football season. The Michigan Wolverines head coach has multiple second-round interviews coming up, including with the Falcons and Chargers, and many would like to see him make the jump back into the major leagues. Harbaugh last coached the San Francisco 49ers before taking over the Wolverines program in 2015.

Jim Harbaugh was at M&T Bank on Saturday to see his brother’s Baltimore Ravens take down the Houston Texans, which didn’t go unnoticed by Troy Aikman. The former Cowboys star and current ESPN analyst advocated for Harbaugh to leave the collegiate ranks after winning the national title with Michigan this season.

“Yeah, I hope we see him in the NFL next year,” Aikman said during the broadcast. “He’s going to make somebody a heck of a football coach. He’s won everywhere he’s been, beginning when he began his coaching career at San Diego, the University of San Diego. Congratulations to him on his national championship.”

John Harbaugh: Jim’s ‘best coach in football’

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh went so far as to call his brother the “best coach in football” last week, with no qualifier. Harbaugh believes Jim gets the best out of his players and his teams, regardless of the league or conference, are always well prepared.

“Eventually, [Jim’s team] will be on the schedule,” John Harbaugh said, speaking hypothetically. “Those are always challenging games, because he’s such a great coach. His teams are always ready to roll. They always are. They’re always well coached. Always fundamentally sound. They always play super hard. They’re always connected emotionally.

“I think he’s the best coach in football. He’s a great coach.”

Although reports have Bill Belichick as the lead candidate for the Falcons job, Harbaugh is considered a front-runner for the job in Los Angeles. His resume with multiple stops on the West Coast makes it a logical option for the 60-year-old coach. The Ravens coach wasn’t about to reveal his brother’s ultimate plans, however.

“I’m not sure what Jim’s plans are. I think whatever he does, it’ll be what’s best for him and his family,” Harbaugh said. “I know Michigan has been a joy for him to go back to his alma mater. His family loves it there. The players love him. He loves the players, coaches [and] the fan base. I don’t know exactly what direction he’s going to go.”

“He loves Michigan, but he loves the NFL, too,” Harbaugh added. “So, we’ll just have to see.”