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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh covets a Lombardi Trophy. But he doesn’t seem to think he’ll win one in Denver.
Through ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, Broncos CEO Greg Penner has been meeting with Harbaugh over the past few days about the possibility of taking the job in Denver.
The in-person interview came after a video interview — and after Harbaugh announced he will remain in Ann Arbor through at least 2023.
The mere fact that Harbaugh attended the meeting shows that despite his public comments, the door is not completely closed. Why else waste everyone’s time?
Regardless, Harbaugh attended the meeting. Which says a lot. The Broncos have moved on, which is also saying a lot.
Schefter downplays the meeting as a duty of care. But no care is needed if, as Harbaugh said, he doesn’t go. So the Broncos (for now) decided not to offer Harbaugh the job, or Harbaugh decided he didn’t want it.
The development again confirms that Harbaugh is clearly interested in a return to the NFL. Otherwise, he would have told Penner not to waste his time and money flying from Colorado to Michigan.
And until the Broncos hire a coach, it remains theoretically possible that the Broncos could make Harbaugh an offer he won’t refuse. For example, if they want 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and Ryans prefers the Texans, the Broncos need to go to Plan B. Whoever Plan B may be.
Ultimately, it could be plan C or plan D. The Broncos will certainly try to characterize whoever gets the job as their first choice for a variety of reasons — including but not limited to convincing the fanbase that they have the man they wanted and not a fallback option .