USATSI
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has spoken to Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper about the vacant Panthers head coaching position, according to ESPN, though the conversation was not marked as a formal interview. NFL Network previously reported that both the Panthers and Denver Broncos were interested in speaking to Harbaugh for their openings.
Harbaugh told reporters after being courted by the Minnesota Vikings in February 2022 that this would be the last time he would have an NFL job, describing the attempt as a “one time thing” to the Detroit Free Press. However, Harbaugh quickly found himself back on the NFL coaching circuit after a second Big Ten championship and a trip to the college football playoffs.
Harbaugh has been at the center of NFL coaching rumors for years after enjoying a hugely successful tenure with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014. The 49ers reached the Super Bowl during the 2012 season when Harbaugh posted an overall record of 44-19-1 in the pros. Three of his four seasons ended with 11 or more wins, and he won NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2011.
The Panthers searched the collegiate ranks for their latest signing, Matt Rhule, who was released after serving less than three years. However, Harbaugh has seen success at the NFL level, making this a far less risky hiring for Tepper. Interim coach Steve Wilks was also considered for the job after taking Carolina from 1-5 to 6-10. Rhule has since served as Nebraska’s head coach.
Harbaugh has made Michigan a national force over the past two seasons. The Wolverines won consecutive overall conference championships for the first time since 1992 and earned back-to-back trips to the college football playoffs. Michigan lost to TCU as an 8-point favorite in the weekend’s Fiesta Bowl semifinals in the biggest upset in college football playoff history.