Per PFT: Jim Harbaugh being interviewed by Viking
January 29th, 2022 at 6:11 PM ^
MSU isn’t paying Mel’s contract. So that’s a pretty horrendous comparison on your part.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:10 AM ^
Michigan is not paying Jim’s salary either. At most, paying a fraction of it. What do you think those named positions are for? Anyone knows what the size of endowment for Jim’s position is?
January 29th, 2022 at 5:19 PM ^
I can tell you Michigan's financial situation post-COVID is FINE. All that woe-is-us stuff about COVID was nonsense. Michigan football is a giant money-cannon, and 1 year doesn't matter. Do you have any idea how much money the program earned this year?
January 29th, 2022 at 5:35 PM ^
“How much money the program earned” is largely offset by the expenses of the entire athletic department.
Not saying they aren’t fine, but “money cannon” isn’t entirely accurate either.
January 29th, 2022 at 7:56 PM ^
Given how much M's athletic program pulls in each year and how much money they spend superfluously each year just because they have it, if they couldn't survive one Covid year, the Ops guys should be fired.
January 29th, 2022 at 8:20 PM ^
Well yeah, like I said I’m not saying they aren’t fine. But Michigan football isn’t a “money cannon” either. They’re tasked with keeping the rest of the athletics department afloat and paying the bills for everyone.
Sure they bring in a ton of revenue. But there’s a lot of expenses that needs to cover.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^
Dangerous to say no to a Viking.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
I don't get it. He interviews Larry Foote for an open coordinator position but then is interviewing with NFL teams the same week?
January 29th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
I have absolutely no inside information, but my guess is that it's simple: he's going to do his job at Michigan as if he's staying until he leaves (whenever that is).
January 29th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
What’s not to get? He knows there’s a good chance he doesn’t get the Vikings offer and wants to make sure if he stays at Michigan it’s a good situation but prefers to be in the nfl and would take that offer.
if you have an interview for a new job do you just stop doing your current job? It’s a cutthroat business, ultimately harbaugh doesn’t care about if he screws Foote or Elston because his success is ultimately the only concern.
January 29th, 2022 at 7:00 PM ^
The thing here is that Jim is kind of screwing over our recruiting by doing this, and I’m sure he has a plenty food financial situation where he could retire temporarily and get back to coaching next year in the way of an Urban Meyer. Most people, if they had the financial situation Jim he, and hated their current job, would just take a year off to find a new job.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
Do you think that Foote or Elston are not well aware of the current contract situation and potential NFL move for JH? Maybe we’ll want Foote for HC if JH goes? You suppose JH filled them in on what’s happening? ???
January 29th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Larry, would you like to be my DC? It will be either for Michigan or the Vikings.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
Pretty sure this tweet is based off of what John U Bacon said on a podcast and nothing more
January 29th, 2022 at 6:09 PM ^
I'm not going to lie - the fact Sam Webb wrote about this same conversation/rumor and then PFT pops out a "source says..." a couple hours later points to that being a real possibility.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
How is it that Sparty can get donors to fund Tucker's contract and we can't at least match that?
January 29th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
I’m sure we can. Question is more whether we need to, if it would matter, and are we desperate enough to do it?
1. Do we need to?- It would be pretty silly to offer a monster contract to a coach that isn’t coveted by other teams. Up until this interview report, there was very little to say the NFL was interested. Tucker and Franklin received monster deals because there was growing fear that they were leaving after interest from LSU and USC. If there’s no interest in Harbaugh, no reason to panic and throw money at him. If you can get Harbaugh for $8 million, there’s no reason to offer him $10 million and enter a bidding war with yourself.
2. Would it matter?- Depends on if money is a factor. Harbaugh could (in theory) simply want to be in the NFL. There’s nothing Michigan can offer Jim that is “the NFL.” If money really doesn’t matter to Jim, giving him a fat contract isn’t going to stop him from wanting to return to the NFL.
3. Are we desperate enough to do it?- While Michigan could certainly afford a monster contract, especially with donor help, it would have to be determined whether it’s worth it in the eyes of the AD. Are you going to give Jim $10mil a year, or do you have attainable coaching candidates that you feel you can get similar success from for a lower price tag? Like I said above, MSU and PSU gave their coaches big contacts out of desperation, not success. Is Michigan in the same position of desperation, or is the AD confident in alternative options?
obviously, I’m not in the AD so I can’t answer #3. I’m not Jim so I can’t answer #2. But up until now, the answer to #1 has been “no.” We haven’t needed to throw a bunch of money at Jim if nobody else was interested in hiring him.
January 29th, 2022 at 7:12 PM ^
Or maybe Harbaugh doesn't want to be at Michigan?
January 29th, 2022 at 7:49 PM ^
That’s a pretty asinine take. Of course Harbaugh wants to be here. If he didn’t want to be here, he could just resign. Someone, somewhere would love to have him in some capacity. He’s also got more than enough money that he could just retire if he wants. If he just wanted out of UofM, that’d be incredibly easy for him to accomplish.
But it’s possible to want two things at the same time. He can simultaneously want to coach Michigan and want another shot at the NFL. It is up to him, given the offers on the table, to determine which option is the best for him at that particular stage of his career.
Personally, I love my job. I love what I do, I love the people, I love the company I work for, I love the hours, I love my compensation. But there are other things I would want to do if given the opportunity to do them. I’d wager we’re all like that. Why would you expect Harbaugh to be any different?
January 29th, 2022 at 8:09 PM ^
You underestimate the man's ego.
January 29th, 2022 at 8:23 PM ^
Hmm no I think you just make too bold of an assumption with nothing to back that up. Now you’re making judgements of an inflated ego, also with nothing to back it up.
January 29th, 2022 at 8:41 PM ^
You usually don't get to where he is without a large ego.
If you think my large ego guess is somehow derogatory, I don't, not for the line of work he's in.
Bottom line is, I don't know what he is thinking and you have no clue either.
What we do know is that he has not signed the contract the university offered him and he is interviewing with an NFL team.
We don't know exactly what his motivation is to interview with the NFL team.
We're all just guessing here, you me and the rest.
January 29th, 2022 at 11:28 PM ^
Your ego remark implies having a large ego means he doesn’t want to be at Michigan?
Again, you can want multiple things at the same time. Jim loves Michigan. This is clear. He loves coaching Michigan, also clear. He’s going about his job at full speed, also clear.
He can also have a desire to get a Super Bowl. It’s up to him to figure out what’s the best move for him at this stage of his career. Which means, hearing what the NFL has to offer.
None of that means he doesn’t want to be here. “Ego” or not.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:09 AM ^
Hintz is right. Why must there be a a derogatory note attached to what could be a pivotal point in a mans life. Jim has always been a very good coach who has achieved on both collegiate and Pro level. We don't know what He's shooting for after His teams best year at Michigan. Maybe the man needs some respect from from his employers or is just exploring his options. He has shown he possesses a selflessness to be others minded. Something very commendable at his level. He's earned the right for me to cut him some slack.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
Because it's a stupid contract. You're giving a guy a $100 million who's been a head coach for 2 and 1/2 seaons. What happens in year four if the wheels fall off? You're stuck with him for quite a while.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
Michigan rich donors are a different breed than some other schools' rich donors and different in a way that isn't beneficial to athletics
January 29th, 2022 at 5:39 PM ^
The idea that Harbaugh is interviewing with the Vikings because he wants a dollar amount from Michigan and Michigan can’t afford it is… not in keeping with reality.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
Amen, brotha. And that's not a guess.
Also, reading through this thread, I'm just floored at the notion that Harbaugh somehow owes it to the University of Michigan to be coach for life, or that his leaving means he loves UM any less than the day he started the job. He took a tire fire and turned it into an OSU-stomping Big10 champion and the #2 seed in the CFP.
Would love to have him here, but I hope he gets whatever job makes him happiest.
January 29th, 2022 at 7:07 PM ^
^ exactly ^
January 29th, 2022 at 8:43 PM ^
Co-sign. Some Bama fans call for Sabans head whenever Bama loses. Trying to comprehend that portion of a fan base/humanity is a fools errand.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:42 PM ^
I sincerely hope the truth is that Harbaugh has a burning desire to return to the NFL and not that his nose is bent out of shape because he took a lot of a heat and a pay cut last year. Both were warranted. He (finally!) had a season expected of him and his salary. If he is who he professes to be he'll stay and coach his ass off for the University of Michigan, if not, he'll take the money and run back to the NFL.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
With each passing day, I care less and less
January 29th, 2022 at 5:07 PM ^
What will be will be.
Eat at Arby's.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
Maybe Harbaugh was calling Larry Foote about coaching the Vikings!
s\
January 29th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
I'm tempted to make the following post: SHOULD HARBAUGH DANCE WITH RECRUITS LIKE KELLY?
January 29th, 2022 at 10:14 PM ^
Do it. I double-dog dare you.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
I think I need to rewatch The Game again…
January 29th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
Maybe Harbaugh has one Foote out the door.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
If he is desperate enough to coach in the NFL that he would voluntarily choose Kirk Cousins, let him go ASAP.
January 29th, 2022 at 4:56 PM ^
Man, today has SUCKED
January 29th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
It ain't over.
There are 7 more hours.
Even more if you are on the west coast.
January 29th, 2022 at 7:38 PM ^
This is definitely one of those days I kind of wish there were some meaningless threads just to push all the bad stuff off the front page.
January 29th, 2022 at 8:53 PM ^
Hey, definitely could have been made worse if we'd lost power in this Nor'easter. Finding the flashlight, getting snow down my sweatshirt, firing up the generator ... Yep, could have been worse.
Tomorrow will be great. Bright sunshine, thowing tons of snow wherever I can find the room. One day closer to Spring...
I won't spend even a minute thinking about any of this.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:11 PM ^
It's hysterical at this point.
Leave Michigan for the Vikings? Good luck. I semi-accepted he was gone a week or so ago when no extension was formally announced. It's exhausting.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:11 PM ^
Harbaugh can't be doing his job "effectively" with the rampant rumors surrounding his departure. H.S. recruits and their parents are not oblivous to rumors, and it affects their judgment on the school. So while JH may be "doing his job", he's not doing it in a way that maximizes UM's chances to land recruits.
January 29th, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^
Everyone has dumped on this guy but this is the point everyone ignores!
Even if Jim stays he has now created, his own doing, that he legit is interested in the NFL again. That kills recruiting!
This charade is beyond old.
January 29th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
I'm thankfully and improbably at a place in life where this doesn't resonate firsthand, but this is a really apt description of the situation:
January 29th, 2022 at 5:26 PM ^
I agree with Alex. JH is of course welcome to pick any job he wants. But this endless opera is annoying and sort of disrespectful to the program -- it's destabilizing, especially when it occurs so frequently. Shit or get off.
January 29th, 2022 at 10:07 PM ^
How is he supposed to accelerate the process of getting an NFL job? He can't take any job until it's offered. He hadn't received a single offer and the door was closing fast before the Vikings hired a GM with close ties to a member of his staff, and now things are moving along at a normal pace. What's he supposed to do to make this process go faster?