Harbaugh and Panthers Owner Talk (Not Interview)

It is very common that when a team is conducting a search for a new head coach (or even a position coach), that management will reach out to their network of contacts to get their recommendations on potential candidates.  Just as an example, when the NY Giants hired Joe Judge, it was reported that they did so based upon the recommendation from Bill Belichick to either the GM or owner.  

The pro football community is relatively small and tight.  It's a real possibility that the Panthers owner knows JH and was reaching out to (1) ask whether he would be interest in coming back to the NFL; and (2) assuming that JH isn't interested, just picking his brain about possible candidates.  Those discussions happen all the time.  

Is it just me or is the front page article not fully loading?

This is still all smoke, no fire yet.  Time will tell, but this all falls in the standard "Michigan just finished a good year" bin so far.  Tons of speculation and no interviews or offers.

Honestly his contract at Michigan could be better. You can't blame the man for listening. If he gets a massive deal I won't fault him.....and it's not bad publicity that we have the best coach around 

Stop with the “I love Michigan so much” horseshit then.

this is a business, it always has been, and he’s now jerked Michigan’s chain twice.

he could end this all in 10 seconds with the following tweet a “please do not trust media sources reporting that I am interested in NFL coaching jobs - as I’ve said previously, I am coaching Michigan in 2023”.

sorry, I know chasing clicks is the thing to do these days but there have been multiple people reporting similar things. There probably is SOME truth in that he’s answering his phone when being called, and he’s just listening, instead of completely shutting this down with a single tweet that would take 10 seconds to write.

So I've heard that he's interviewing with the Broncos, he's already been offered $20M/yr, and he's now talking to the owner of the Panthers about a head coaching vacancy but it's not an interview.  Totally makes sense and definitely doesn't read like a bunch of interested parties just throwing stuff out during a slow news week.

Oh, and people close to him have vehemently denied a bunch of these claims formally but unnamed "sources" who are even closer are talking constantly about his inner thoughts.

I am calling for a return to the 1-post-a-day "Harbaugh tracker" that was in place last year so at least this insanity could be confined to one area.  

I don't see why everybody's crapping all over Harbaugh when none of this is confirmed.  I'm taking him at his word until something definitive happens.

"Hi Jim thanks for taking my call.  Boy do I have a great opportuni..."

"No."

"Ok well I appreciate the conversation."

Give him a 20 year contract at 10mil per. 50 million buyout if he leaves for the NFL. Lock him up for the rest of his coaching career and also kill this bullshit buzz that happens every year. 

Gets to raise his last kid in the place they have lived, and retire with generational wealth. 

He gone

I would hope that Warde and Jim at least are of the understanding that it happens quickly if it does happen. Bad for the program the longer this plays out regardless of outcome. 

If it's the $20 million (the Broncos already proved a willingness to commit ritual cap suicide over quarterback contracts, they might as well completely upend head coach salaries), I don't think I'd have much respect for Harbaugh.

If he's just done with college football over the recent free-agency/portal stuff and how awful recruiting must be, then I get it.

Either way, I think the lack of a reassuring statement in the last day or two is, unfortunately, an answer of some sort.

A lot being said about a guy who hasn't said anything to confirm/deny anything being said about him.  The power of the media is insane

If Warde doesn't put out a statement aby days end, he should be fired

Turns out it was about a special teams analyst position. Jim sais “nein”.

The wildcard in all of this that wasn’t here last year and hasn’t been mentioned: Santa Ono. 
 

Santa could be helpful as a very pro-sports guy.

That is an interview

Yea he really would just have to make an official statement saying he’s not going anywhere - and if he were 100 % UM, he would do so for recruiting. He’s not. That’s why he’s not saying anything - even if it costs him a couple 5 stars and he’s stuck again. He can do just fine anywhere but I’m pretty sure the challenge of the NFL and a Super Bowl is just too enticing to a middle-aged existentially pressed man losing miles on his odometer. Idk I hope he stays but this is just as toxic as a breakup-every-week relationship in high school; just has that crazy and unstable feel to it. 

Here's the problem with the "he needs to make the decision fast" crowd.  Currently there are just three openings for NFL HC jobs

Denver

Indy

Carolina

But it is almost certain that there will be more, maybe a lot more in the next 10 days to two weeks as black Monday hits the league.  Other possible openings include:

Phoenix

New Orleans

Atlanta

Tampa Bay

Cleveland

Las Vegas

Houston

Now not all of those will open up but at least a few will (I'm betting on Phoenix, Houston & Las Vegas).   Would a HC job in Houston with the chance to pick first and get the QB of your choice be more enticing than either Denver, Indy or Carolina?  Unfortunately I think this is going to drag on for at least a week or more before we have closure one way or the other.