Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan program made the college football playoffs for the second year in a row. And for the second year in a row, the coach is reportedly building on that success by flirting with a return to the NFL.
Harbaugh has spoken with Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper about potentially filling the team’s vacant head coaching position, according to the Associated Press and ESPN. Both reports emphasize that the conversation was not a formal interview.
The Panthers are looking for a new head coach after firing Matt Rhule, the former Baylor coach who has since taken the job in Nebraska. According to ESPN, Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks, who has a year as head coach with the Arizona Cardinals, is a strong candidate for the job after accepting a roster that went 1-4 under Rhule and 5-6 since.
While Tepper has indicated that he’s not interested in pulling another head coach from the collegiate ranks, Harbaugh is unique in that he has more NFL head coaching experience and successful head coaching experience than most other top pro candidates .
Will Jim Harbaugh make the leap back to the NFL this time?
In Harbaugh’s first breakthrough as NFL head coach with the San Francisco 49ers, he led the team to an overall record of 44-19-1 in four seasons, reached Super Bowl XLVII in his sophomore year, and lost to his brother John Raben’s Baltimore.
After reaching the NFC championship game three straight seasons, the Niners battled for an 8-8 record. Harbaugh soon went to his Michigan alma mater after an alleged power struggle with the management of Niners.
It took Harbaugh a while to find success in Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines finally defeated Ohio State last year after six straight losses under Harbaugh and made the college football playoffs for the first time in the program’s history. They lost the semifinals to eventual national champions Georgia. After the season, Harbaugh applied for the job as head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, but eventually returned to Michigan while Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell took over the position.
The story goes on
History basically repeated itself this season. Michigan convincingly defeated Ohio State to end another strong regular season, made the college football playoff and lost in the semifinals, this time to TCU in a 51-45 thriller. Now Harbaugh could be on track for an interview with another NFL team.
Brace yourself for another season of Jim Harbaugh-to-the-NFL speculation. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Harbaugh signed a five-year, $36.7 million contract extension with Michigan after the Vikings interview last offseason. The deal has a $3 million buyout by Jan. 11, according to ESPN, at which point it drops to $2.25 million.
He denied any interest in an NFL job in early December, but aptly added, “Nobody knows the future.”
As much as he spoke to Harbaugh, Tepper is required by league rules to interview at least two minority candidates for the job before making an appointment, which the AP notes he can’t do until after wildcard weekend.