Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer January 16, 2024, 10:57 p.m. ET
Close
- Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him on Twitter @MikeRothstein.
The Atlanta Falcons are inquiring about the biggest names available in this head coaching cycle.
The Falcons announced Tuesday that they had completed an interview with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, a day after meeting with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Harbaugh and Belichick are the most successful NFL coaches in the world – and Harbaugh has won everywhere he has coached.
Editor favorites
2 relatives
Harbaugh, 60, has been at Michigan since 2015 and won the national championship and three straight Big Ten titles earlier this month. He has an 86-25 record in games he has coached with the Wolverines – he was suspended twice last season while Michigan was en route to the national title – and his team has at least 12 in each of the last three seasons Won games.
Prior to his time at Michigan, he coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, achieving a 44-19-1 record with two NFC West titles, three playoff appearances, three trips to the NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl berth – which resulted in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, coached by his brother John Harbaugh, in Super Bowl XLVII.
Jim Harbaugh never finished a season below .500 during his NFL tenure.
Harbaugh spent four years at Stanford, revitalizing a struggling program and ultimately finishing with a 29-21 record – including a 12-1 season and a No. 4 final ranking with the Cardinals in 2010. During his time there, Harbaugh helped He helped develop future No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck in 2009 and 2010. Harbaugh also went 29-6 in San Diego and won back-to-back Pioneer League titles.
Harbaugh is the seventh coach to interview with the Falcons to replace Arthur Smith, who was fired Jan. 8 after three seasons on the job. Harbaugh joins Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and assistant head coach Anthony Weaver, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers D-coordinator Ejiro Evero, Niners D-coordinator Steve Wilks and Belichick as candidates for the role.
This is Harbaugh's second known interview. He also spoke with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.