Harbaugh told top 247 signee of plan to entertain NFL options.

Lots of feelingsball on this one. 

On the one hand, I have expressed that he has achieved major goals here -- he's beaten OSU and won the Big Ten. If he figures he can't realistically compete with the Georgias and Alabamas for the National Title due to what are presumably institutional norms, then him leaving makes perfect sense. 

On another hand, don't f*cking say you'd coach here for free -- which clearly implies that you want to stay and coach here more than anything else -- while planning on going to the NFL. That's just slimy to me.

On another hand, Jim's bowl game focus/prep/planning still seems to be a notch below what we'd like. It was the Jimmies and Joes against Georgia, but it's also becoming clear that it was the Xs and Os.

On another hand, I was fine with him leaving after last year, but I have come around to him staying, since he has improved and modernized his coaching a fair amount. If he is at a level where he can beat OSU 30-40-50 percent of the time (whatever number we stick in there) and win the Big Ten as a result a number of times, then I am good with him staying at Michigan. So, it's probably my fault if he leaves, since I definitely can't have nice things in my Michigan fandom.

So I don't know, he did this stuff last year. If this is what he wants now, then do it and get it over with and let's find a good replacement. The worst thing is drawing it out. I don't want someone here that doesn't want to be here -- that's what it felt like in 2019 and 2020.

That makes zero sense. Sounds like someone else doing some negative recruiting 

Raiders and Bears are the suitors, right? Can't imagine him moving to Las Vegas. Maybe if they were still in Oakland.

I'm a Lions fan but I live in the Chicago area, and all the insiders think the Bears organization is just a mess. There's serious rumors that they will keep their gm or promote? him after this season, which is a joke. Their president is like Rod Wood for the Lions except he hasn't had the good sense to remove himself from football decisions. I think the only way the Bears make it happen is by offering Coach a Pete Carroll-type situation, which they seem incapable of doing.

Meanwhile, I'm sure Warde is putting together what basically amounts to a lifetime contract. Staying seems the most likely option, but who knows.

My take on this is the level of "smoke" has more to do with if Harbaugh had a successful season or not. I bet the R-squared of "Oakland/Chicago/NFL in play" takes with how good of a season it was for Harbaugh is 0.999 or so. To me, the hype is more about other people being interested in him (or not) in any given year.

Yes, this thread is about him actually saying something to someone about something. So that something shouldn't be completely discounted. But, then again, I would also entertain dating Kate Upton if things didn't work out with her and Verlander. Just because someone says they'll entertain something doesn't indicate the likelihood of it happening.

It would be difficult for me to entertain only this one comment (in the context of the feverish wanting-us-to-click-on-their-content by Michigan insider types), and discard all the other very public stuff Harbaugh has said about (1) wanting to be at Michigan (2) coaching for free here (3) this is just a beginning.

The article more points to Harbaugh being honest about getting offers, likely staff shaekups as guys get poached, etc. The usual mantra of "pick the school, not the coach" but spoken with honesty from the HC and not lying to a kid's face like a lot of coaches.

I do think Harbaugh will entertain NFL interest and may well jump, but I also don't necessarily see any of the likely openings being particularly interesting to him.  But I do think it would behoove the university to redo his contract and make other overtures to correct issues he sees (NIL, transfers, etc.) as possibly holding him back (within reason).

I don’t buy it. Harbaugh has publicly stated he’s willing to work for free, and loves it here. Kids and family are all growing up where he did, why move his family (kids particularly) to a whole new school and start again? Raiders, even though are on the cusp of possible playoffs are still a disaster of a team. 
 

My own personal opinion is that he told them, because he’s not an idiot and media would speculate. I would be willing to listen to new jobs as well if they come to me.  Why not be upfront and gain trust with a recruit? Doesn’t make sense to insinuate that he is going to leave this year for a recruit that is coming in. 
 

Now, if the rumor/theory about the whole NIL deal is true and that’s what is holding everything back, that’s a different story. 

I think if he leaves, it's because he doesn't like the future of college football vis a vis NIL and prefers the rules of the NFL with a more level playing field.  Isn't that why Beilein quit?

So, both Clemons and the transfer from Virginia agree to come here legitimately thinking their head coach might not be here but our recruiting coordinator leaves and some people think recruits are bailing left and right because of him? Got it!

Can we sacrifice Howard instead?

Damnit 3-9 in football and a basketball program that's now run by a fraud.

I just wish that he and John would agree to switch jobs for a couple years. Wouldn't that be cool?

I am choosing to believe that he isn’t leaving. 
 

If he does leave, that’d put Warde in a position where he absolutely has to go get a big name, and pay every penny he can find on the coach and the staff. I cannot imagine a bigger embarrassment for the AD than cutting a guys salary, having him win big, and then leaving. 

I don't think Harbaugh bails on UM like he did Stanford.  He has 7 kids in school, lives close to his parents and is settled here.  Picking everyone up and moving LV, Jacksonville or even Chicago seems like a stretch.  

If he does go though, I say steal Josh Heupel from Tennessee, he will be a winner there, book it.  If UM opens up, he could great, exciting things here.

Can we just have nice things for a little while at all in this play station dynasty?

The cost of having a successful season is having to endure these kinds of rumors. Harbaugh even more so as he has been successful in the NFL, unlike all the other college coaches tabbed for NFL coaching vacancies.

I'd be surprised if he left, especially after the public comments he made both before and after the CFB game.

That said, no one knows what he is thinking except for Harbaugh. The NFL could make him an offer "he can't refuse", or the University will do what it needs to do, not just in terms of salary, but giving Michigan the ability to compete for the same players, so that Harbaugh stays.

I expect there's going to be a resolution reasonably soon. One or two weeks.

dammit
I hope nothing comes of this hearsay

All about leverage and what Warde will do to keep him.NIL transfers and what Michigan will do within the framework of the rules to compete.If they want to act like it is 1970 then I don’t blame JH for throwing up the dueces and bolting to the NFL where there is an actual level playing field unlike the NCAA.

Let's analyze from Harbaugh's perspective:

UM Pros

1) He loves the school

2) He loves the community

3) He's "home", his alma mater, childhood, etc

4) He seemed reinvigorated this year and truly enjoyed coaching 

5) He loved this year's team and the assistants brought in were successful

6) He could be building something special for the future

7) His life and family is pretty rooted in Ann Arbor at this point.

UM cons

1) The fans are fickle and shit on him last year despite the tire fire program he inherited.  He rebuilt the program by year 2 but the OSU football factory kept him from titles and could continue to do so in the future.

2) He's a superior coach to many who have it easier than him in college due to institutional advantages - will he continue coaching here if cards stacked against him.  Would any of us?

3) UM has no organized NIL or transfer portal strategy yet - why so far behind?  Will this responsibility fall on him as well? Does he want to take on this challenge.  

4) Even with NIL and a change in transfer policy, can we compete with SEC annually?  Our recruiting grounds are not as fertile and only OSU has been filthy enough under Meyer to bring in that level of talent nationally.  Even then - OSU seasons generally end in a blowout against a southern school in the playoff.

5) NFL has structure, isn't the wild west and a fairer playing field is already guaranteed...even if needing to rebuild a franchise.  The NFL attempts to create parity...CFB is the exact opposite.

6) There's a level of sleaze and used car salesman associated with being a CFB coach these days that may just not be Harbaugh - specifically when it comes to recruiting.

My 2 cents -

If we bring on personnel to run first class NIL and structure a competitive transfer policy, and Jim feels he can bring in top 5 talent annually due to solid institutional support - he'd stick around to do what he loves most - coach em up and compete at an elite level.

If we put it all on him, recruiting, etc, but don't give him the green light or tools to compete with OSU, SEC for players, he will walk.