Harbaugh and Future NFL Flirtations -- Not Gonna Happen!
I don't know about you, but I'm continually blown away by some football reporters and Michigan fans saying that Harbaugh will continue to flirt with the NFL again next year and the year after that. I was just listening to The Wolverine podcast with Balas, Doug Skene, and Angelique, and they're talking about how if Michigan has a really good year next year, then it's going to be another offseason of Harbaugh flirting with the NFL. I think this is just insane, for these reasons:
1. Warde is not going to put up with another offseason of Harbaugh trying to get a job with an NFL team. It's bad for recruiting and for Michigan, and Warde would almost assuredly say "Ok, I've had enough of this, time for us to move on from Jim". This was a one-time thing, and if it happens again, especially after Harbaugh told him it wouldn't happen again... then you can bet that Warde would fire him and move on. Sam Webb said as much during the WTKA podcast yesterday. I don't know why these other Michigan football insiders don't understand that.
2. Considering the fact that he would likely be fired for flirting with the NFL again, and that the new contract is likely to have a huge buyout, thus scaring away most NFL teams, I don't think Harbaugh is dumb enough to try this again.
3. I personally believe Harbaugh when he says that he is staying with Michigan and will no longer ever pursue the NFL.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Oh hey, silly me. I thought you might have some new info, like a quote or contract details.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
It's Walter White. He's been cooking meth in the desert with an annoying teenager for weeks. Cut him some slack...
February 4th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
In defense of Jesse, he paid attention and learned. He went to Mexico and cooked a pure batch in front of the cartel by himself even though he doesn't speak Mexican.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
I loved that show immensely, but if I never have to hear, "Hey, yo, Mr. White..." again, that will be OK...
February 4th, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^
Not to mention the fugue state.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
He was just visiting his mother.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
It might happen and I think it's ok if it happens but he really needs to find out what this year was: a turning point or an anomaly. And that's going to take several more years. I don't expect the guy to stay until he's 70, like Saban. I want him to ride this wave until it plays out to its natural conclusion.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
You lost me at The Wolverine podcast by Balas. He just said it was a done deal JH was going to the Vikings…
Harbaugh is the coach for the foreseeable future. Relax. Just see how it all pans out.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:34 PM ^
This.
You are listening to balas and Skene. That is the ops problem.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:36 PM ^
One point that Skene clarified is that NFL teams are not going to knocking down Jim's door unless Michigan continues to compete on a natoinal level. If we beat OSU again next year, win the B1G and get back to the playoff, then sure, NFL teams might take another swing. But absent that, there's not likely to be many teams lining up to steal him away.
I can only speak for myself, but I rather prefer the scenario where Michigan is so successful that we have to deal with Harbaugh to the NFL rumors every offseason.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
Me after opening this thread/Harbaugh after 3p in Minneapolis on Wednesday
February 4th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
‘News’ becomes ‘olds’ very quickly around here. My best advice: pay attention!
February 4th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
In my five-cent opinion, I do feel this is the last time he's going to look at the NFL. It really had the air of certainty to it; like this was about as real as it got. He flew out there, did a super long interview, and for whatever reason, it didn't work out.
He's also not the youngest cat anymore, even though he has a ton of energy. If he was to stick around a few more years at Michigan and then got the NFL urge again, he'd be like close to 65. I don't foresee an NFL franchise wanting to take on someone that close to potential retirement.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
5 cents >>> 2 cents!
February 4th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
I think it’s funny that you think Warde is Harbaugh's boss.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:12 PM ^
Warde will be lucky if Jim doesn’t fire him
February 4th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
(It’s totally gonna happen)
February 4th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
#1 assumes what Warde will and will not put up with, and is in no way a certainty; #2 relies on the assumptions in #1, while further assuming that there is a "huge buyout" in his contract (which I think is likely, but we don't know that yet); #3 is, as you say, just your "personal beliefs."
At this point, I think Harbaugh's search for a Super Bowl in the NFL is probably done, too. But none of us really knows. Hell, I could see us going 7-5 this fall and the same people who were panicking at the thought of Harbaugh leaving earlier this week screaming for his head. This situation is, like many, fluid, in other words.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:23 PM ^
I will add to this. These same people calling for his head will be yelling, "If Harbaugh didn't interview with the Vikings they would be undefeated!!! Fire Harbaugh!!!"
February 4th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
Logged in to say that FauxMo is a smart guy who makes coherent points. Appreciated.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:45 PM ^
I think 12-2 with NFL flirtation is more likely than 7-5 with fans calling for Jim’s head. The only realistic path to 7-5 would be that the loser of the qb battle transfers and then the starter gets hurt.
February 4th, 2022 at 6:27 PM ^
Agree with your points here, but if we go 7-5 with our 2022 schedule, that would be quite disappointing and mean that we somehow ended up 4-5 in B10 play.
February 5th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
This might even be true w 8-4...and 9-3 w the 'wrong ' 3 losses. The love around here is pretty fickle...lukewarm even.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:16 PM ^
I think that it may be simpler than this - he's 58 years old and if not now, then probably never when it comes to any return to the NFL, especially a meaningful one. Since it is now as we know, then likely never. For that reason alone, I suppose the prospect doesn't worry me.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
It seems Harbaugh really had an itch about getting back to the Super Bowl and how close he was to winning. Whether that itch has been scratched for good by this escapade is something that remains to be seen.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
Can we just ban "opinion" pieces on Jim until further notice?
February 4th, 2022 at 5:05 PM ^
Not until I write mine. I haven't started a thread in a couple years, so I'm due.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
Hi everyone I'm new to the mgoblog community as a lifelong wolverine fan. I believe Jim Harbaugh when he says he will not flirt with the NFL again essentially because of the consequences of doing so and I do believe he loves Michigan being a Michigan legend as he is, but I also have learned as a staunch sports fan to take coaches words and statements with a grain of salt whether at Michigan or coaching somewhere else.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
That was one loooong sentence! (Yes, it was preceded by a sorta short one.)
February 4th, 2022 at 5:19 PM ^
Welcome to the blog. One short bit of advice: periods are your friend.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:06 PM ^
Not if he is married.
ba dum tiss!
February 4th, 2022 at 4:23 PM ^
One thing is certain he will be more careful about leaking all future NFL flirtations until after the ink is dried on the contract.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:25 PM ^
Thank God Minnesota didn't have his same unbridled enthusiasm as Jim!
I won't go out on a limb as say "never" will he entertain the NFL, but I think we will have a reprieve for a while.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
I mean, I don't think it's such an irrational fear.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^
I can only speak for myself, but any fear I have is the fear of a coaching search. All things come to an end, and I don't fear that. I fear having another Brady Hoke I-would-have-walked-here-moment. Or another Rich Rod I'm-going-to-change-everything-before-I-understand-what-the-Big-Ten-is-all-about moment. Coaching search PTSD.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
Balas made it quite clear the last couple weeks that he just straight up makes shit up. No shred of truth needed.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:31 PM ^
Practicing your outline writing? You're 8th grade (and current) teacher will be so pleased. You're almost ready to move on to full essays.
February 6th, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^
Man, don't misspell "your" when you're trying to pan somebody's writing.
February 6th, 2022 at 10:09 PM ^
Right. It's not because I was rushing, it's because I didn't know better. Thanks for the reality check.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
If next year results in another OSU win, BIG championship and CFP app. we will be ok if he looks at the NFL again.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
1. Warde has no choice. He is a ghost.
2. He wont be fired unless they go 3-9. Luckily we dont play enough games to go 42-27.
3. I dont think harbaugh NEEDS to make that edict. I think it helps if it ends up true and the negative recruiting will continue for probably 2 more years or so, and then die down if he keeps his word. But, i dont think harbaugh owes it to anyone. We want that to be true and the stability, but pretty clear that we gave him 2 months to dick around and decide - nobody better was coming through that door.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Great, another pointless post.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
Florida’s AD used to have a deal with Spurrier where the coach got a 30 day window at the end of every season to look at his NFL options. After the 30 day window was closed he was expected to be all in for Florida.
They could put something like that in place for Coach Harbaugh, with a mammoth buyout outside of the window.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
Walter?
I suggest you need to rethink your understanding that Jim is a simple employee "at will". He is not.
Unless there is something in Jim's current or a potential new employment agreement that explicitly prohibits Jim from interviewing (which would be tantamount to an employment servitude, which topic we should not address), Warde cannot "fire" Jim for interviewing again.To fire Jim, Warde would need something called "cause", however that gets defined/delineated in the agreement.
My take? Jim wanted to interview because he wanted a shot at competing for a Super Bowl ring (John's got one, I want one too). He spoke to a group that wanted to discuss giving him that chance, the conversation went poorly from one or both side's of the table. Jim called Warde, got confirmation he was still welcomed "home". Jim promised to not repeat the process and this is where we are. Jim is still our coach ...
New contract coming? I would presume so. New terms therein? I would assume so.
We will see what is what as soon as there is something new to see.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
Balas is no longer someone I'm listening to
February 4th, 2022 at 5:00 PM ^
what is going on with this board?????
February 4th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^
Stupidity has gripped the nation, and unfortunately for all of us the mgoboard is not exempt