Harbaugh and Panthers Owner Talk (Not Interview)
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^
Unless Michigan is prepared to fire him because of internet rumors Michigan will have little to no say in the timeline. No matter how badly the recruits and assistants need the answers.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:07 PM ^
Or Warde could get him to sign a stupid money big buyout long term contract. That’s pretty much the only way to really kill it. He’s always going to be attractive for somebody in or around the NFL and unless he’s the highest paid coach in CFB with a guarantee he won’t get railroaded the next time he has a down year, he’d be an idiot to not at least listen to what NFL GMs have to say.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:46 PM ^
The AD doesn't have to fire him because of internet rumors. All Warde needs to do is sit Jim down and say "Are you genuinely looking to return to the NFL and currently entertaining offers?"
If Jim says "Yes I am" then Warde immediately begins to get the next HC lined up before either forcing Jim to resign or firing him in order to stabalize the program for recruiting. Recruiting won't survive Jim trying to return to the NFL every single freakin off-season.
If Jim says "No I am not and never will" then Warde or Jim makes a quick statement putting an end to all of this and life goes on.
The fact that 1) Jim has already talked to at least one NFL organization in this current off-season, 2) Multiple program insiders are saying Jim to the NFL could actually happen and this is more than just NFL sports writer sensationalism for clicks, and 3) No statement from the AD or Jim has come out utterly denouncing any return to the NFL is a bad sign...
As they say, the silence is deafening.
January 3rd, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
I would really like to know what program insiders think about Sherrone Moore. From the outside, there’s not a guy I’d like more imo.
Oline coaches make good Michigan coaches.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
I like Harbaugh a lot and had hoped he'd stop this NFL desire, but at this point Michigan should just say see you later. I want a coach who wants to be our coach. I'm done.
January 3rd, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^
At Ann Arbor he's the caged pretty bird the sports world wants to look at.
In the NFL he's the Jack London wolf running free in the cold, snowy hills.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
Harbaugh appeared noticeably upset post game of TCU for the press conference. I haven’t ever seen him be all red faced and appear to have been crying after a loss. I know the rumors are swirling now but I couldn’t help but wonder that night if those were tears of goodbye himself or the emotions of saying goodbye to seniors and coming up short of where they thought they would? Maybe it’s all nothing, it’s just something that struck me weird with him.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Harbaugh realizes that he only has so many chances to take an NFL job on his terms. He was rejected last year and now he can demand a $12-20 million contract, personnel decision making, etc.. He might go back to the NFL and be wildly successful, or he might go and see that the NFL game has passed him by. If he loses and is fired from a franchise, what’s the worst that could happen? He could either be welcomed back at Michigan if the program is flailing without him at the helm (kind of like Bill Snyder at KSU, except he retired and came back), or if Michigan is still in good shape, get another college job like Matt Rhule did after he fell apart in the NFL. Three years from now, we’d all be begging him to come back if Michigan is having 8-4 or 7-5 seasons and he just got fired from an NFL job.
January 3rd, 2023 at 8:47 PM ^
Sorry, I would not. He flirted with NFL last year, fine it is what it is. Harbaugh doubled down and mentioned twice he would be the wolverines 2023 coach. Still think he stays one more year but if he leaves like this after saying he would coach next year and told Warde he was done doing this, this random fan would not accept him back
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Its like they had these headlines and articles to blast out a head of time as soon as JH was done.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
If coach wants to go the the NFL he should go. I will have almost nothing but good memories of his time here. I can't remember two consecutive years of Michigan football I have enjoyed more. I hope he stays but if he has an itch then I guess he should scratch it. I just hope it doesn't drag out too long for the sake of the program.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:35 PM ^
This topic is going to own the boards for the next several weeks isn't it?
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
until there's a definitive answer, yes.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
I'm just flashing back to the previous 3 or 4 years.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
Which there basically cannot be until every NFL job is filled. People are calling for him to be fired over internet rumors. There is literally nothing he could say that would fully quash it.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:59 PM ^
Disagree. The reason everyone's up in arms is because weeks after saying he's enthusiastically back at Michigan for 2023, everyone finds out that he's talking with NFL orgs who are searching for their next HC AND program insiders are all saying that the threat is real.
So it's not the same as years past where some random NFL website would throw out a BS story that had zero credibility to back it up. "NFL may be interested in Harbaugh" is totally different from "Harbaugh talked to Panthers today regarding head coaching vacancy". ESPECIALLY after he literally tried to leave Michigan for the NFL just one season ago. So he's established precedence that he has recently been looking to leave for the NFL. And once that happens, actions speak louder than words. If you are 100% dedicated to remaining at Michigan, you don't take the call to discuss the head coach opening at various NFL organizations. You just don't. They reach out and you say "nope, not interested, have a nice day".
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:51 PM ^
Apparently he expressed “sincere interest” in the Panthers job. If so, Warde needs to act.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35372772/source-panthers-owner-jim-harbaugh-talked-coaching-job
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
According to Fox Sports Charlotte, whoever she is.
January 3rd, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
I had no issue with him talking to the Vikings last year. After all, this is a job, not a marriage. Everyone has a right to look at other jobs. This year is different. Either a person’s word means something, or it doesn’t. Last year he said he was done looking for NFL jobs. No one made him say that. That was either a lie then, or a commitment he appears to be breaching without any compunction now. I have been a big Harbaugh supporter, but enough is enough. He should leave now whether he has another job or not.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:02 PM ^
How did the quote go, "A Michigan man will coach Michigan"?
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:03 PM ^
Given there is a good team situation (Colts) with connection to JH and a long-time family owner (although an oddball in terms of Irsay), JH may not find the options all that much better in 2023 if he stays. He's even in the Colts Ring of Honor, so that would be something motivating him to come back to NFL.
Would love to see him retire here as the winningest coach in UM FB history and the guy who wins #1000 (we're 11 wins short).
The fact he hasn't brought out his jive turkeys comment and that JUB is also mentioning how likely the rumors are factual to a point makes me think he is looking at one more shot to win a SB.
We are immensely better off as a program than Dec 2014. Good luck to JH no matter what happens next.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:08 PM ^
Carolina: "Jim, any college coaches worth targeting?"
Jim: "Ryan Day."
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:13 PM ^
As someone who manages people, its bittersweet to see your good guys go. If coach leaves because he still has personal goals and aspirations, then I would wish him the best. At the same time, he basically told the entire (UofM) nation that he will enthusiastically be back coaching Michigan next year and that is coming from a guy who does not just say things that he does not back up. I would be completely shocked (and a bit disappointed) if he changed his mind and went against his word.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
Saying "it's not an interview" means Harbaugh has the leverage there.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^
What I find adorable is that people convinced themselves Harbaugh wouldn't listen to the NFL this year because he promised. Like yeah, he is the one not crazy egotistical, hypocritical, lying, and self serving coach in football. These guys are all the same. Harbaugh is no different than Tucker and neither is any different than Bo was or Saban and Kelly and Riley are.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
I want Harbaugh to stay at Michigan as well. One suggestion is make him the HIGHEST paid HC in college football. Give a raise that makes him $1M more than Nick Saban or who ever is paid the most. For one, he's earned it, two, make it a long term contract and three give all of the assistants big pay raises. The TV contracts are getting bigger and this athletic department can afford it.
If that fails, then let Jim walk to the NFL.
January 3rd, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Not an interview...
January 3rd, 2023 at 5:23 PM ^
If he's gonna leave, I hope he leaves quick. This shit just can't drag on every year, can it?
Pfft, of course it can, but I hope it doesn't.
January 3rd, 2023 at 5:28 PM ^
I would say Carolina is where he’s hoping to land in the NFL.
January 3rd, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
apparently Panther fans want him
and no word yet from Jim Harbuagh extinguishing the NFL rumors, so............ what are we to think?
January 3rd, 2023 at 8:20 PM ^
He gone. Not that anyone here really cares, because apparently everyone around here thinks Warde Manuel is responsible for the success of the last two years.
January 3rd, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
This is just truly disappointing. I took Jim at his word that he wasn't doing this again.
Incredibly frustrating, I almost don't want him as a coach if he doesn't want to be here, but he's one of the best coaches in football, and he never gets enough credit from this fan base. This program will drop off a cliff if he leaves, he's holding it together himself.