Understanding the Harbaugh Contract Negotiations
https://www.si.com/college/2024/01/11/jim-harbaugh-loves-michigan-so-why-would-he-leave
I know, I know neg me for linking Mr. Stretchgate but it’s a well thought out piece and I think it explains the information we’re hearing more. Well worth the read and seems to echo Bacon’s discussion of reassurances, including suggesting he wants assurances and looks at the big picture of the situation.
One line that stood out: “Look at this from Harbaugh’s perspective. His contract is with Michigan, not with the NCAA. He clearly disagrees with the NCAA and Big Ten’s interpretations of certain events. An NFL team would offer Harbaugh a fully guaranteed contract. Why would he turn that down to stay at Michigan if he can get fired eight months from now, with no severance, because of an NCAA ruling?”
January 11th, 2024 at 4:26 PM ^
My understanding is that Jim would like to coach an NFL team to a Super Bowl championship.
I think that is the "understanding" that needs to be had here.
Why did Beilein leave? Ummm.....
January 11th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
Why would he turn that down to stay at Michigan if he can get fired eight months from now, with no severance, because of an NCAA ruling?
Because if he got fired 8 months from now, he could just go work for an NFL team 8 months from now.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:34 PM ^
What team is going to be hiring a new head coach if the NCAA forces Michigan's hand in the late summer? This is the NFL hiring season. August/September are not. And if there's anything we can bank on with this "scandal," any and all decisions will be timed to be as inconvenient and harmful to Michigan as possible.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:02 PM ^
No he couldn't, not with that timing, and even when there are openings there's no guarantee they might be as attractive as current openings.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:03 PM ^
Change your 8 months to 12 months and yeah. No NFL team is hiring in 8 months. But maybe he'd rather just leave now of "his own accord" rather than have Michigan fire him for cause down the line because of some bullshit NCAA rule violations.
And I'd have to imagine the open jobs in the NFL now are probably better than they will be a year from now, strike while the iron is hot if you have to.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
The idea that Michigan could retain Harbaugh but won't because of the NCAA scam is really painful. It essentially means the shills in that org achieve their ultimate goal of getting Harbaugh out of Michigan because we let ourselves trip on our own shoelaces. We'll probably never know exactly what is going on in those conversations but just the idea that we held the initiative and failed to act really bothers me.
January 13th, 2024 at 3:06 PM ^
The idea that we held the initiative and failed to act really bothers me.
don't let it bother you, because I don't think that's the situation here. Neither Michigan or Harbaugh holds the initiative. The NCAA is the unknown around which all decisions are being based.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
This is as good an analysis as any I've seen yet, by far. (ducks)
It really gets to the core of why I think the national media, CFB and NFL, completely whiff on reporting about Harbaugh: They have absolutely no conception of how weird this guy is, that he ticks differently than most anyone else in the game, and what he wants/needs is driven by an entirely different set of gears and metrics.
Whether he takes an NFL job or stays here, as this article points out, it's going to be for reasons that make total sense to Harbaugh and may be totally obtuse to most anyone trying to read the tea leaves.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:50 PM ^
I would like $12 million
January 11th, 2024 at 5:05 PM ^
Michigan needs to offer him a lifetime contract. Let Harbaugh write the contract however he sees fit. We are never getting another coach that fits the program like Harbaugh does and has his coaching ability. If the ncaa suspends him for a year, let the coordinators coach and welcome him back after the suspension. This is ridiculous get it done now.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:05 PM ^
I think the notion that the University, as a public entity, may be limited or constrained by State of Federal law as to contractual assurances it can provide, is a very real possibility. It's difficult for me to comprehend that Ono or the Board of Regents is not doing everything humanly possible to sign JMFH to a new contract. However, the lawyers may have told them there are certain contractual provisions which they simply cannot consent to. Hope this is not the case or if it is, someone real smart is looking at a work-around.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:20 PM ^
There are no Harbaugh negotiations with Michigan. Harbaugh is looking to join an NFL team that can win a SB within a few years and needs a new HC. If Harbaugh finds such a team, he's gone. Harbaugh likely will find such a team. No matter how much money UM puts on the table to keep Harbaugh, it wont matter. This isnt about money for Harbaugh. This is about Harbaugh finding an NFL team that has potential to win a SB in a reasonable amount of time.
Anyone who has paid any attention to Harbaugh since his very first days of coaching understand that Harbaugh's ultimate goal in life is to win a Super Bowl. He didnt win one as a player. He almost won a SB as a coach. Harbaugh is now 60 years old. How many more chances does he have at winning at a SB? One? If he's lucky, two chances?
Harbaugh got his alma mater a national championship. Mission accomplished for that goal. Harbaugh's ultimate goal remains incomplete.
When Harbaugh was hired 9 years ago, did any of us expect Harbaugh to last 9 years at Michigan? Harbaugh's longest stint as a HC before Michigan was 4 years. Harbaugh doesnt stay anywhere for long periods of time. We were lucky to have Harbaugh for 9 years. Harbaugh will go down as one of Michigan greatest coaches. Count your blessings. Dont be upset or surprised when Harbaugh leaves for the NFL. He gave each and every one of us what we had waited 26 years for: a national championship.
#GoBlue
January 11th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^
You have no clue what Harbaugh is thinking. Just stop.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:39 PM ^
He has been clear that his ultimate goal is to coach until he dies. He'd like a Super Bowl; he needs to coach.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:00 PM ^
I am not going to worry until I have confirmation that he is interviewing with some NFL team, until now all we know is the is enjoying life and probably letting his agent handle negotiations of what could be his last coaching contract,,, with UofM of course
January 11th, 2024 at 7:01 PM ^
At this point, the simplest explanation is that he wants to see what the NFL has to offer.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:34 PM ^
At present, the NCAA has the whip hand. The NCAA's is unpredictability (I'd use a more pejorative adjective if I was in a bad mood), is the fly in the ointment, an obstacle over which neither contracting party has any control -- unless the NCAA and Michigan can agree on a resolution before Harbaugh flies the coop.
Michigan may or may not be in negotiations over that, we have no idea, it'd be behind the scenes.
Point is, it's hard to make a deal when you know there's a substantial risk that the third party with the whip hand can scotch it.
"I will marry you if my parents approve," takes the ultimate choice out of the hands of the contracting parties, and turns the parents into the final arbiters. This is essentially what both parties want to avoid. In a way, entering into an agreement to marry under those circumstances makes no sense.
Coach has an obligation to himself to continue to coach if he wants to coach, whether that's at Michigan or in the NFL. And if anyone on this planet has earned the right to decide their own future, it is James J. Harbaugh.
The folks at Michigan have a fiduciary duty to avoid paying a coach knowing that it's possible he may be prevented from coaching. That fiduciary duty is a legal obligation; how the University's lawyers interpret it is only part of the equation.
There is no safe decision here. Agreeing now presents a risk to both parties.
So I grok why this is a hard deal to close. If I was advising the University, my recommendation would be to get the NCAA out of the picture by trying to reach an agreement on the outcome, fast.
If I was advising Harbaugh, I'd say wait and see unless it's clear that the decision making window regarding the NFL is about to close, in which case, don't risk sitting on your hands for a year to get back into coaching. Take an attractive NFL Job.
I say this despite the personal belief that Harbaugh and Michigan are a great fit, and I want him to stay.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:53 PM ^
Argument null. After the NCAA investigation lead's remarks, sounds like we're getting a slap on the wrist with the argument being we've already been hit by appropriate sanctions from the B1G
January 11th, 2024 at 9:11 PM ^
How did you get that read from his comments? I didn't glean anything other than they're a bunch of idiots who can't figure their way out of a paper bag.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:37 PM ^
NFL stands for NOT FOR LONG. He will have no job security in the NFL. He can coach at Michigan for as long as he likes. I doubt very much the NCAA could force Michigan to fire JH.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:54 PM ^
Will Johnson just said he knows Harbaugh's and JJ's plans. That seems like a strong implication Harbaugh told the team he plans to be back given that no NFL team is close to signing Harbaugh.
I am pretty surprised. I know there was the SC comment about moving spting practice too. I short assumed the Chargers would be the obvious move.