Broncos owner Greg Penner and University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh met in Ann Arbor last week to discuss Denver’s position as head coach without a deal materializing, league sources told ESPN.
Although Harbaugh announced two weeks ago that he would remain in Michigan, Penner did his duty of care and still traveled to Ann Arbor to meet with the coach in person, as he did with seven other candidates during the Broncos head coaching search had done.
Follow-up talks were part of the process for both Denver — led by Penner with general manager George Paton — and Harbaugh. The in-person meeting came after Harbaugh’s first video interview with Denver, after which he withdrew his name from the dispute and reaffirmed his commitment to Michigan.
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“I love the relationships I have in Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, President Santa Ono, and especially the players and their families,” Harbaugh said in his Jan. 16 statement. “My heart goes to the University of Michigan… I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to be happy.’ Go Blue!”
The Broncos also went ahead and continued talks with several other candidates. Denver has hired former Saints coach Sean Payton, former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell, former Stanford coach David Shaw, Rams defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, Cowboys defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, 49ers defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, and their own defense coordinator, Ejiro Evero.
Harbaugh has now met with the Vikings and Broncos for back-to-back years. While one source wondered how many more chances Harbaugh would get, another predicted this week that the league will go ahead and Harbaugh likely won’t have many NFL options going forward.