So What Are the Odds John Harbaugh would Join Brother Jim @ U of M?
Mates,
Checking in on the Baltimore Ravens, they are on a losing streak and have gone from 3-1 to 4-5. The owner only extended John's contract until training camp of 2019. I have linked an article that talks about some of the surrounding circumstances. They of course mention a number of pro teams that might want to hire him - the Jets, Dolphins, Bucs, and Packers, to name a few. His coaching background is mostly offense and special teams before becoming the head coach for the Ravens.
But you have to wonder, at some point guys in their stratosphere have made a lot of money, like, tens of millions. And at some point for most people time becomes more important than money. Ann Arbor was home for him, just like for brother Jim.
So two questions:
1. Under what scenario(s) would John come to Michigan to coach?
2. What/where would he be plugged into the coaching roster?
XM
November 11th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
I would love to see it, but doubt it. The guy won a SB. There are plenty of franchises that would hire him.
November 12th, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^
IIRC on Jim and Jack's podcast they mentioned his daughter was going to ND next year on scholarship to play lacrosse. I could see him taking a year to regroup and spending some time with family in Ann Arbor. An analyst job just to be involved in football in some capacity wouldn't be a stretch from there.
November 12th, 2018 at 5:19 AM ^
Maybe his daughter and Michigan agree that Ann Arbor is where she should be. Would be incredible to have the brothers and parents re-united again in AA
November 12th, 2018 at 7:49 AM ^
I always thought Jack Harbaugh is helping Jim, looking at film doing coach like things while he is in retirement. If John came, he might do the same until he gets a new gig. I recall Jim used to recruit for his Dad at W Ky.
They help each other. Hell wasn't JH a waterboy for an Indiana game for Crean back in the day?
These guys just bring a hell of a lot of expertise to the table and the program benefits.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
Ask me this again after the season concludes and I may have a different answer, but as of right now, I really dont want to touch anything on the coaching staff.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
I’d say zero chance...he’s not going to displace Don Brown as defensive coordinator....he’s too qualified for position coach. He’ll stay in he NFL and will get another head coach job.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
I suspect he'd come in as an Analyst if he comes.
November 11th, 2018 at 11:13 PM ^
This is the only scenario in my mind that he comes here. He decides that he wants to take a year to refresh himself and only joins as a part-time analyst to provide some advice to Jim.
November 12th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
Lions
November 11th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
We don't need two head coaches
November 11th, 2018 at 11:16 PM ^
Truth. One of them might drown to death.
November 12th, 2018 at 2:51 AM ^
And we know which one.....
November 12th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
I'm gonna take this as a Gattaca reference. Go Jerome [Vincent], go!
November 12th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
It's more of a Harbaugh reference.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
Maryland Twitter really wants him to replace Durkin but I can’t imagine John wanting anything to do with that tire fire
November 11th, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^
No way in hell John H goes to Maryland from the Ravens but I think with the right coaching staff, someone could turn that program around quicker thank you think. All Durkin had to do was not be an asshole and show compassion towards his own players while going 6-6 every year. Didn’t work out that well.
As speculated by most he’ll either get another shot in the NFL after this season or take a year off and survey his options.
November 12th, 2018 at 4:38 AM ^
"All Durkin had to do was not be an asshole and show compassion ..."
True - although in regards to these traits, DJ has a lot of company in this world.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
Join UofM? ... 0%. Hang with his Dad, Brother, Nephew, etc while between jobs? Pretty good. He'll probably hang around during camp and a few game weeks if he takes a year off. Watch some film, do a podcast, etc.
November 11th, 2018 at 11:48 PM ^
Sure, a chance to relax with family. That would sound good to me!
But to a Harbaugh? I bet he's looking at the state where he was born, the state where he went to college, a state in which he has experience coaching at the college level and recruiting, and seeing that its premier program has a coach that seems on the brink of retiring. He's seeing that while their program is usually spread oriented they currently have a quarterback suited to his type of offense, not to mention more talent than any team outside Alabama.
He's thinking back to beating his brother in the Super Bowl and thinking "I could do that every year."
November 12th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
This would be simultaneously the darkest/dankest timeline. The Game being the Harbowl would be insane.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:00 AM ^
That was exactly my first thought when I read the news, but I didn't dare even whisper it to the winds.
Could that fanbase withstand a Harbaugh? Another JH no less? Eleven Warriors would have some cleanup duty ahead of them.
OK I'm now officially loving it.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
I could see him taking a breather year at Michigan while the right job opens up. I doubt it would be his desired destination, but it could happen temporarily if something better doesn't show up at the right time.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
He's way too young. Maybe after he makes another $50mil over the next decade.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
He’s a proven NFL head coach with a Super Bowl. He will find a head coaching job before having his little brother be his boss.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
Unless it’s a like an analyst or something for a year. But I doubt he would be a concrete part of the staff
November 11th, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
Pretty sure John's older.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
Error on my part. I knew that and meant to say “little” but was thinking about how John was older and wrote “older”
November 11th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
Personally, I give it 1 chance in 3.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
So, he's just some... buckaroo?
November 11th, 2018 at 9:36 PM ^
Solid reference to “Hunt for Red October”.
November 12th, 2018 at 2:54 AM ^
In November? That’s bad luck.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
Give me a ping Vasily, one ping only..
November 11th, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^
Never tell me the Odds!
November 11th, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
Maybe an analyst gig if John isn’t looking to get immediately back into coaching and wants to spend some time around his family?
November 11th, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^
I seriously doubt either Harbaugh would work for the other given how competitive they are with each other.
November 11th, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^
Gene Smith should offer to make him the highest paid coach in the Big Ten.
That would take two rivalries to a level only seen in Hollywood, who'd be drooling over the prospect. As would ESPN, Fox, BTN. etc. There's money to be made. The recruiting battles would be fun. What players wouldn't want to be part of that rivalry?
November 11th, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
and under the filing of 'cloak and dagger' (also known as 'can i borrow your tin hat?'), a decades-long plan by the harbaugh brothers comes to fruition as they not only purposely make michigan the winner of X straight games v. ohio, but they also arrange to tank the ohio football program and put it on probation for a decade.
November 12th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
The hardest part about purposely getting a program in deep trouble with the NCAA is somehow managing to pry the NCAA's hands from over its own eyes.
November 11th, 2018 at 10:13 PM ^
While it’s obvious they’re both uber competitive, I don’t think they’re as petty as what most sibling rivalries are. I’m sure if John had interest in helping Jim, he’d welcome him with open arms.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:33 PM ^
John is the clear cut top candidate for any open coaching position in the NFL. I don't know when the last time such a strong candidate was available. Andy Reid is probably the only person that is even close. It would be cool to see him at Michigan, but he'll have his choice of open NFL jobs (and honestly probably some jobs that are not open).
November 11th, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
The last time such a strong candidate was available?
2014?
November 11th, 2018 at 9:35 PM ^
Obviously a guy with coaching acumen, but it looks like he hasn't coached at the college level since the 1980s - and never as anything more than a position coach. I'm not sure the college environment would appeal to him or be a good fit, but I could be wrong. Analyst position might be a good break for in between NFL gigs - better than an ESPN booth.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:36 PM ^
He should take a year off, then take the Lions job after the 2019 season. Hard to imagine the Lions will be much improved after another season under Patricia.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^
This. I vote this.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
I wish I could upvote this idea 1000 times.
November 11th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
What do you have against John Harbaugh?
November 11th, 2018 at 11:50 PM ^
I get your point—the Lions franchise is the graveyard of NFL head coaching careers—but Harbaugh would be—by far—the most accomplished HC among all those hired by the Fords.
I'd be shocked if it happened, though.
November 12th, 2018 at 6:04 AM ^
Steve Mariucci says hi!