As the NFL recruiting cycle heats up, Harbaugh remains a big chess piece on a board full of new additions, with Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel all becoming available in recent days, in addition to the likes of Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Others receiving multiple interview requests include: Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, OC Todd Monken and assistant head coach/defensive coach Anthony Weaver; Bengals OC Brian Callahan; Lions DC Aaron Glenn; Rams DC Raheem Morris; Texans OC Bobby Slowik; and 49ers DC Steve Wilks.
Few candidates are as intriguing as Harbaugh, who interviewed for NFL jobs over the last two offseasons with the Vikings and Broncos, respectively. He has won everywhere he has coached, including four seasons with the 49ers, leading them to wins in nearly 70% of their games (44-19-1) and appearing in three consecutive NFC Championship Games, one of which he won won and thus advanced to Super Bowl XLVII (a 34-31 loss to his brother John's Ravens).
Jim Harbaugh, 60, has spent the days since Monday night's 34-13 win over Washington relaxing and going on a school-sponsored victory tour, including a celebration Saturday night at the school's basketball arena. Michigan, which has a contract offer on the table that would make Harbaugh one of the highest-paid college football coaches, likely won't give up on him without a fight.
But Harbaugh has also spent time updating personnel rosters and reviewing potential NFL offenses. Unlike current NFL assistants, who must wait until Jan. 22 for an in-person interview, Harbaugh can begin interviewing for head coaching jobs immediately.
The Chargers, who fired Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco on December 15, have been conducting a parallel, intensive search for their next head coach and general manager. Harbaugh is certainly an interesting candidate, but sources say the sides have not spoken yet. That should change next week, and if all goes well, things could quickly pick up again.
According to sources, Harbaugh will not require the team he joins to hire its own GM, knowing that the structure of NFL buildings has changed and evolved since he last worked in the league. Still, teams like the Chargers would likely hire a GM who is familiar with and can work with Harbaugh.