SI Article on Why Harbaugh Should Stay
He truly has built something incredible here that took years to get right and won’t be easy to duplicate. Especially having his dad involved and the family all around him like it is now.
My hope is if it not the right fit of salary, control and organizational meshing then he’s likely coming back. He’s not going to take just any NFL head coaching position.
January 21st, 2024 at 9:56 AM ^
Don't give me hope.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:37 PM ^
One thing that gives me hope is he’s still got young kids. Does he really want to move his family out of Ann Arbor to LA when they’re the most beloved citizens there? Seems a little nuts.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
I mean he did play for the chargers (albeit in San Diego) when he had young kids. Orange County wouldn’t be too much of a jump.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:05 PM ^
To each their own but I lived in Orange County for a little while. My wife and I both agreed we weren’t going to have kids until we moved out of there.
January 21st, 2024 at 4:28 PM ^
So you move to Wichita?
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:09 AM ^
I live in Denver. But I would much rather live in Wichita than Orange County.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^
And his parents live in Ann Arbor, right? I couldn't believe Jack when he said he was in his mid-80's -- he looks and sounds great for 84.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
His wife is from California.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
I thought she was from Missouri
January 21st, 2024 at 1:51 PM ^
Yep KC is what I read earlier.
January 21st, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
My wife grew up in San Diego; her family moved to the Oregon Coast in her early teens. Every time we visit SD, she wants to buy a house in Point Loma with saltillo tile floors and a view of the ocean. I have to remind her each and every time that what we would pay in property taxes alone would put us in the nicest hotel in La Jolla for about 2-3 months....
January 21st, 2024 at 2:01 PM ^
LA is actually a desirable place to live. That’s why people live there. Most people in LA would wonder why he’d prefer to live in the Midwest when he could live on the beach in Southern California.
January 21st, 2024 at 2:02 PM ^
LA is actually a desirable place to live. That’s why people live there. Most people in LA would wonder why he’d prefer to live in the Midwest.
January 21st, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
I suppose desireable if you like living elbow to elbow in extremely expensive places.
January 21st, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
He’s going to be making $18 million a year lol
January 21st, 2024 at 6:55 PM ^
With high California income tax at 12.3% plus federal at 37% that $18M gets nearly cut in half.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:53 PM ^
You only get one life. Whether your joy is the ocean or the forests of Northern Michigan just do it. I got people I know living in a place they are miserable because the tax slide rule tell them its gonna hurt. Yeah it hurts but if you got $9 mil take home go wherever the hell makes you the happiest.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:50 PM ^
Yet you don't hear much about cabin fever there for a reason.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:20 PM ^
That's easily resolved via private jet aircraft and I think he can afford it.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:01 AM ^
SI?? I thought that place died last week. Also, I may have read that as “si” instead of SI being short for Sports Illustrated.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:47 AM ^
They don't need no stinkin' employees. They've got AI, and AI thinks Jim should stay.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
AI is better than most of their columnists anyways.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
I had my own team of SI writers create me a similarly toned article about why he will bounce.
Three reasons why Jim will leave for the NFL, by the UglAI team.
1. Elevating Career Challenges and Accomplishments: While Jim Harbaugh has achieved remarkable success in college football, moving to the NFL represents a new pinnacle of professional challenge and accomplishment. Harbaugh has already proven his coaching prowess in the NFL, with a .695 winning percentage and a Super Bowl appearance. A return to the NFL would offer him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of football, enhancing his legacy not just as a college football great but as a versatile and successful coach across both major tiers of the sport.Financial and
2. Professional Growth Opportunities: The NFL offers significantly higher financial incentives, including lucrative contracts that can surpass those available in college football. Additionally, the NFL provides a broader platform for professional growth. It's a global brand that brings greater exposure, potentially leading to more personal endorsements and opportunities outside of coaching. This move could be in line with Harbaugh's career aspirations and financial goals, especially considering the evolving landscape of football where the line between college and professional coaching is increasingly blurred.
3. Impact and Influence in a Larger Arena: Coaching in the NFL means influencing a wider audience and having a more significant impact on the sport. The NFL's extensive media coverage and global fan base offer a larger stage for Harbaugh to showcase his coaching skills and philosophies. This move can also be seen as a step towards leaving a more profound and lasting impact on football as a whole, influencing not only players but also the coaching community, fans, and the sport's future direction.In essence, while Harbaugh's current position in Ann Arbor is undoubtedly comfortable and successful, a move to the NFL could represent a step forward in his career, offering new challenges, financial benefits, and an opportunity to expand his influence and legacy in the world of football.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
This could be substituted for most journalist reports and no one would take a second look.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:03 AM ^
The AI is trying to gin up ad revenue, and its data indicate that anything about Michigan will be a click-magnet.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
They’re not wrong. We are a fanbase that can be goaded.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:05 PM ^
What the fuck are you talking about asshole? You are wrong and stupid. I'll fight you.
Michigan versus everybody!!!
Even us.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^
Funny how Harbaugh was the last coach Saban would ever face before his retirement and the last coach SI will ever write about before it goes the way of the dodo.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:06 AM ^
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SABAN!
January 21st, 2024 at 10:05 AM ^
Brandon Brown is Sports Illustrated.
Sports Illustrated is Brandon Brown.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
#lennayisronaiah
January 21st, 2024 at 10:17 AM ^
Personally I think there's a chance he stays, not bc he doesn't want to return to the NFL and pursue a Super Bowl, but bc he doesn't get the right offer in terms of control and other 'needs' that he deems necessary for success. OTOH what this article misses is the obvious magnitude of Harbaugh's competitive itch to win a championship at the highest level.
While it's true that he could stay at Michigan indefinitely, win a lot of games including B1G and possibly more national championships, in that scenario he would never know the road not taken (this time around).
Don't get me wrong...like many of us I'm rooting for him to stay but I think he wants to go. Not bc he doesn't have everything he could possibly have in Ann Arbor (except a 3 person panel to decide on his fate in case they ever want to fire him for cause), but bc he really wants to win a Super Bowl, which he'll never do at Michigan.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:57 AM ^
IMO, this is the correct take. He will go if he gets an NFL offer that at least theoretically puts him in a position to compete for a Super Bowl. That is what he wants most.
Michigan is his fallback.
If the NFL does not work out, he still wants to coach, and there is no other non-NFL place that he would want to coach except Michigan.
This decision lies in the hands of the NFL. There is nothing more that Michigan can do but sit and wait to see what happens.
That being said, I think we are overestimating the probability that Harbaugh and the NFL can produce a viable match. It can certainly happen, but it's not a slam dunk.
It has yet to happen. Just like the fickle 'crootin process that we are all familiar with, the longer it drags out without a commitment, the more likely it is that it is not going to happen.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:20 AM ^
His brother won the Superbowl. If Jim wins the Superbowl...he wins. It's between the brothers, Kay...
I agree with all your points, Dog. Especially concerning the viable NFL match. My guess is that Jim's terms include input into personnel decisions that GMs won't necessarily grant or some such stuff. And Harbaugh is clearly a man who chafes with direct superiors, and no GM/president/owner wants that, which is why Belichick is now looking for work despite all the success with the Pats. Once he stopped winning, there was no reason to tolerate the attitude.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
Poor Jim. What if John wins a second Super Bowl this year? Jim will never catch up.
Might as well change the contest then.
Might as well stay at Michigan and be the only one in the family with multiple college football championships.
/just kidding. /not really.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:00 PM ^
This.... John will never win the Ncaa NC.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:25 PM ^
I think Jim should sign a 1 month contract as "co-head coach" for the winner of the Detroit Lions v. 49ers game and coach against John one last time for all the dinning chairs. He can then return to Michigan in time for spring ball. Done deal.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:56 PM ^
My tea leaves tell me if John wins the SB, him and Jim switch coaching positions for next year to challenge themselves.
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
Oh, that's a good take.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:41 PM ^
Always upvote a Godfather reference
January 21st, 2024 at 1:01 PM ^
Idk if I’d say Michigan is his “fallback.” I think he would be perfectly happy if he stayed here the rest of his career. I think he also wants to win a Super Bowl. I think it really is a 1A/1B situation though.
But he has accomplished everything he set out to accomplish here, and if he is presented with the right opportunity to win a Super Bowl, he would take it. That’s where the difference lies. I just think “fallback” paints it as though he doesn’t want to be here but will settle.
January 21st, 2024 at 2:18 PM ^
Thirded
FWIW there’s a lot of optimism around the so-called “insiders” that the Chargers are gonna give Jimmy what he wants. The bastards. As much a I love Harbs, I couldn’t bring myself to root for a team that turned its back on its city and fans so coldly.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:29 PM ^
Of course, they were the LA Chargers before they were the San Diego Chargers...
January 21st, 2024 at 11:18 AM ^
Something I think people overlook is there is a good chance he never gets an offer from an NFL team either. Every team looking for a coach is interviewing some very good candidates. Everyone just assumes Jim is every NFL teams first choice. I think Vrabel will land another HC job. I think Mr. Hoodie will be given very serious consideration by the Falcons, as well as at least a half other very good and qualified coaches being interviewed.
I don't think it's a done deal Jim even gets an NFL offer.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:59 PM ^
Never win a Super Bowl at Michigan? Well, not with that attitude, geez.
Some of you guys just refuse to come out of the BPONE.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:13 PM ^
After a string of consecutive CFP championships, the NFL will be forced to give Michigan a spot in the NFL playoffs.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
I just keep thinking about how he says his great loves are his family, and his work family. I can't imagine him walking out on his love. He will be back. BET
January 21st, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
Frankly, I am tired of the annual drama. If it's Harbaugh's dream and desire to return to the NFL and compete for a Super Bowl championship, then so be it, good luck to him, and thanks for your service to Michigan.
I think, at this point, it's more important for Michigan to plan for a future without Harbaugh be it immediate or in the next few years. That would include incentivizing the assistant and support staff to remain intact.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:24 AM ^
You don’t mess with happy…