Today's "Will He Stay Or Go?" Tea Leaves
Ian Rapoport just posted an interview segment where he mentioned 3 finalists for the Vikings HC job, none of which were named Jim Harbaugh. He mentioned Jim at the very end, but it doesn't seem like an offer from the Vikings is forthcoming at the very least.
If that's the case, and assuming that Miami doesn't offer (not a safe assumption IMO), it looks like Jim is coming back.
Of course, all of this could change on a dime, but for now the tea leaves seem to be pointing in the direction of a 2022 return.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
Other than his honest statement that 'he would entertain NFL offers' there has really been zero indication that he was leaving.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
Insiders are saying that he isn't coaching in 2022 with his current contract, and that he has a contract offer on the table.
To me, that suggests that the NFL is on the table until he signs a new deal.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
that may be true.... however 75% of what 'insiders say' may also be complete bullshit.
insiders may be doing exactly what you just did, "To me, that suggests......" which is your opinion. We're all entitled to our opinions, and we should recognize our opinions have little to nothing to do with what Jim Harbaugh is or isn't doing.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
"May"? Almost all of it has been bullshit.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
well, i was trying to be fair.... there might have been some actual insiders giving facts.... its impossible to prove so I tried to leave room for the possibility.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
I don't mean to criticize what you said, I'm just tired of this clown show and all the random bullshit that's made up on a daily basis by the media. They will throw his name at every head coaching opening with some made up evidence that it will happen until the last vacancy is filled.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:17 PM ^
A majority of the talking heads ARE clowns. They throw crap at the wall in hopes that it sticks in order to make themselves relevant. They are all guessing. No one knows what's in Coach Harbs mind except him and his family. It's a waiting game, in which, I hope Michigan steps up.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^
Harbaugh can clear out the media bullshit very easily, yet hasn't shut down the noise.
Interesting considering his OSU post-game " a new beginning", to letting things drag on.
Likely this all ends with a signed revision at UM, but the man isn't talking like that's his path.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
TO BE FAAAAAAAAAIR!
January 31st, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^
to be fair
January 31st, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
So what becomes of the staff? I just don't get it. Why would Elston leave ND for uncertainty? IF a new guy comes in from outside the current staff......are they gone?
January 31st, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
IF a new guy comes in from outside the current staff......are they gone?
That would be up to the new hire. I’d expect at least two (Weiss and Jay) to join Harbaugh at his hypothetical NFL job. But the rest of the staff would be up to the new coach to decide. Michigan has a very good, young staff. So I would guess that most of the remaining staff get brought back regardless. Guys like Clink and Elston are nationally lauded as great position coaches with a ton of recruiting upside. I think it would be silly for any new coach to push them out.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Just like when Jerry Maguire lost the number one draft pick the night before the draft.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:42 PM ^
"What you do have is my whole word, which is stronger than oak." Matt Cushman
January 31st, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
True. It seems pretty obvious that JH wants back in the NFL, it just doesn’t seem like JH is being considered as anything other than a fall back plan for NFL teams.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:28 PM ^
Well to me, that suggests maybe there are some details in his new contract offer that maybe he’d like hashed out before he signs it.
Just because he has a contract offer doesn’t mean it’s one he’s happy with signing, and would like some changes made to it before he does.
Seems to me that’s equally as plausible as the endless NFL rumor mill.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Except that he’s actually talking to NFL teams. You’re seething this through the eyes of a fan who can’t imagine he wouldn’t want to stay at Michigan. He may be torn about. But he’s clearly intrigued by the NFL. Maybe accept that possibility.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:54 PM ^
Except we don’t know that. Literally all we know is that Minnesota asked for, and received, permission from Warde to call Jim. That’s it. Period. Even with Minnesota receiving permission to call Jim, that doesn’t mean Jim reciprocated their interest.
Everything else we’re hearing is speculation, conflicting rumors and unnamed “sources.” Whether you choose to believe them or not is completely up to you. But to pretend we “know” anything is just flat out wrong.
My entire point is that we don’t know anything about this entire process. “NFL is on the table until he signs” is just as plausible as “he’s still negotiating the terms of his new offer.”
January 31st, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^
Unless I missed something, which is possible. That was second-hand knowledge from a recruits father whose pastor asked Harbaugh the question. I also don't have access to the original 24/7 article. I might have missed the other parts of that conversation with the pastor and the context of the conversation.
Unfortunately, I'm becoming numb to one-line sound bites. There are just far too many articles about things involving one line of a conversation/interview to entice clicks or subscriptions.
Now, of course, Harbaugh could dispel the rumors reasonably quickly with the hysteria that has followed. But who knows, he may be in contract negotiations.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^
Common sense indicates he wants to leave. If he wanted to stay, he would have already signed a reworked contract that undid the complete disemboweling he took last year. He hasn't.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
I keep seeing people say that, but it's not true. Common sense indicates he is testing his options. What have you seen that indicates that if Michigan ends up looking like the best one he doesn't stay? Isn't that more common sensical?
January 31st, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
Frankly... no. College football coaches are college-football-coaching year around. The fact that we are now on the last day in January and Harbaugh is turning up fairly legitimately as a candidate for basically every opening would indicate that his mind is on other things right now. I don't think he is gone for sure, but if we are talking common sense I would certainly say the news of the last 72 hours are trending more toward him taking an NFL job.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Harbaugh IS college football coaching year round. He just got back from a nationwide recruiting trip with the rest of the staff. He was hosting recruits in Ann Arbor on Saturday, including handing out an offer to a 2024 TE. He’s been reaching out to DC candidates and just hired a DL coach.
The “news” of the last 72 hours is a bunch of rumors and the Vikings getting permission from Warde to call Harbaugh. Nothing, even the rumors, implies Harbaugh isn’t doing his job at UofM.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
I agree with this. Think of how you do your own career.
With me, I’m always looking out there to see if there’s a perfect opportunity at a company i might like to work for. That doesn’t mean that I’m “looking to leave” per se. I might even take a phone, or even in-person, interview. None of that means I want to leave or that I’m not happy where I am and even would love to stay. I like my current employer and the job. But if the right opportunity presents itself, I’m listening to it. That’s all it means.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
I think this is absolutely correct, but unfortunately it's also very ambiguous. He may be testing his options and heavily favoring leaving, which would not surprise me. I think it's also perfectly reasonable to think that he's heavily leaning towards staying, but he owes it to himself to think about it. We may never really know what the balance is, whether he stays or leaves: he might want to stay, but feel like Michigan didn't make much effort to keep him, or he might be ready to go but not quite get a good enough opportunity.
Harbaugh unquestionably wanted to coach at Michigan, every indication is that he turned down significant NFL interest to coach here. But Michigan's response to the last few years, and the 2020 season in particular, may have soured that relationship enough to make it undesirable to continue. It could also be that he's planning to stay, but knows that this is the year when he'd be likely to get the best offers from the NFL (he had a great season, won coach of the year, plus he's 58 and may not seem as good of a hire in a few years), and he knows that if he were ever going to think about going back to the NFL, this would be the year to do it.
What I don't understand is the idea from some that he should leave if he's not 100% committed to staying. What other jobs do we expect a person to never think about a change? I teach, and I'm very committed to my students and my work, but every few years I think about a change, whether it's schools or careers. I haven't yet, I kind of doubt I ever will, but when I get frustrated with one thing or another, I give it some thought. Obviously head coach is a totally different beast and level of commitment, but I think one can be true to oneself, give a job change some serious thought, yet decide to return and do so with full energy and commitment.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
Spot on. I also don’t get the “you’re either in or not. If you’re not 100% definitely absolutely definitely going to stay, then get the hell out” people. It makes no sense.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
Your post makes sense. You riled the cult members of the blog. A plus one to you. Have a good day.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
The "non-pony" cult?
January 31st, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
And yet it would be easy for Jim to say "I'm not going anywhere"?
January 31st, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
After reading the dozens and dozens of comments from the folks on MGo Blog over the past 4 weeks, yours is straight to the point and refreshing. My own two cents is worth that or less. I have said very little during this time except wake me up when it's over.
This month long ordeal, saga, drama and whatever else comes to mind is getting old. Only Jim can end all of this with one statement.
After such a successful football season, we'd all hope that there would be much less drama after the season ended but instead, we get all of this crap. Let's all hope this sh!t ends one way or another in the next few days.
If Jim stays, is he damaged goods? I tend to think so. If he goes to the NFL, what's next in terms of HC at Michigan? One scenario I don't want to think about-UNTIL such news comes down the pike.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
If the Vikes don't end up offering, does Ross stick to his word and hold himself from being the one who took JH out of Ann Arbor?
I feel like he goes to Miami if the Vikes offer (I think he'd rather go to Miami with Ross and Ross only offers if he knows JH is leaving anyways).
I feel like he stays if the Vikes don't offer. I think if it comes down to Michigan or Miami, Ross will hold up his word.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:59 AM ^
Ross isn't going to pull Harbaugh unless Harbaugh says he wants to leave UM for the NFL. So if the Vikings aren't in play I'd be surprised if he offered Harbaugh.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^
Yes, this. I bet Miami was only talking about Harbaugh if Harbaugh was going to be offered the Viking(s) job. Otherwise Ross won't approach Harbaugh.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:27 PM ^
This seems to sum up what we know or think we know.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
I have a feeling that Ross would only interview and pull the trigger on Harbaugh if Harbaugh approached him directly and said "this is what I want and the league is where I want to be." In that situation, no one could really blame Ross for moving forward with trying to hire Harbaugh. I certainly wouldn't.
Otherwise, and without any direct insider knowledge into the situation, I'm thinking Ross wouldn't want to do anything to muddy up his name with Michigan. Not that he'd be a pariah or that they'd take his name off the business school, but his perception amongst many Michigan fans and alums would be at least slightly tainted. It would be an image issue, and one I'm sure he'd want to avoid if he could.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
if Harbaugh approached him directly and said "this is what I want and the league is where I want to be."
That essentially already happened a while ago, before the Raiders noise and well before the Vikings GM was hired. I say essentially because it was via a proxy but that doesn't change that it was JH reaching out to Ross. The answer was no.
Ross has buildings (and an entire professional school) named after him on campus. People like that aren't casual about tarnishing their reputation among the Michigan alumni. They really, really care what people think about them. Or certain people, anyway.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
If Stephen Ross decided that he really wanted Jim Harbaugh regardless of circumstance, I don't think he'd have any trouble disregarding what he said previously about not wanting to take him away from U-M. People like Ross don't become billionaires by being shrinking violets—they're smart people who will do and say anything to get what they want, and justify it later. And if he did sign Harbaugh, his largesse to the University—and the possibility of more in the future—would mute any serious criticism from bigwigs at U-M. Hell, I could easily envision Ross signing Harbaugh and simultaneously announcing another huge donation to Michigan, which would really tamp down any bitching and piss-moaning.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
Ross can always play the "if he's going to leave anyway, then it might as well be for my team" card and nobody will really be able to refute that. So he didn't "take" Jim from Michigan, Jim was leaving Michigan anyway and he just said better Miami than Minnesota.
He still owns a billion+ worth organization that he wants to win and will figure it out if he thinks its in his best interest to get Harbaugh.
And then he just dumps more money on UM for another new coach and some upgrades.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:31 PM ^
What do your feelings have to do with any of this? Feelings are why we end up with multiple "Harbaugh: Will He Stay or Will He Go?" threads every day.
Right now there are very few facts out there.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:17 PM ^
The vast majority of what people talk about on a message board is about conjecture. Whether it be:
1. Who is going to start - Cade or JJ
2. Will anyone new be signing with Michigan on Wednesday
3. Who will be our new DC
or will Jim stay or go.
If there is some new requirement that all comments be fact driven, we would have lots less posts.
Heck, you seen to “feel” that we shouldn’t have so many posts based on “feelings” or what I would personally consider as “conjecture”.
If a message board focused on Michigan sports isn’t the right place for a conversation about a topic that could have huge implications for the football team, what is it for?
January 31st, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^
If I were Harbaugh, the Dolphins would look like one of the worst jobs available. Go against the Bills and Patriots twice a year with a team that has questions at key roster spots? No thank you.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:37 PM ^
1 win vs. OSU
0 vs. Mel Tucker. His overall record vs. MSU
2022 maybe night game voodoo @ Iowa
The Dolphins beat the Pats both times but lost to the Bills twice.
Gets to beat the Jets
January 31st, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
Simple: he's more interested in the NFL than the NFL is in him. Still think he's POd about his salary cut but this stuff isn't helping our recruiting - opposing coaches will constantly be using the "Harbaugh back to the NFL" against us in the future. End it - one way or the other - NOW
Even if Jim Harbaugh returns to Michigan, the damage has been done (saturdaytradition.com)
January 31st, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
I think he’s more upset that the University won’t do more on the NIL front than he is about his salary cut.
Say what you want about the man, but he does care about the university + winning. If the University won’t fix the competition aspect, he’s going to go somewhere where he can win. It’s that simple.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:21 PM ^
From what I've read, I think this is the key issue (transfer portal as well). Harbaugh would like to repeat the 2021 season a little more often than once per decade and the 'elites' within the university won't let him do what needs to be done because they think Michigan will become a football factory.
If he was that bent out of shape about his salary, why would he donate the incentive part of his incentive-laden contract to the athletic department employees?
January 31st, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
I could care less what a realtor from Kentucky has to say. I guess everybody has an opinion these days.
January 31st, 2022 at 6:23 PM ^
How much less could you care?
January 31st, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
I tend to agree. If he wanted to stay, he should end the NFL speculation immediately mainly because it can have the tendency to detrimentally affect recruiting. By not addressing the situation, it suggests he has one foot out the door and would welcome a move to the NFL.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
Just to help you out. This has been the case since he arrived, kind ma’am or sir. Thus, the 1,000,000 plus entries like these are unfounded. We already have a top 10 class signed or ready to sign so those posters who continually spew this out just cannot help themselves. Oh Lord, Harbaugh’s hurting us, he’s so selfish. No one has corroborated any of these, “rumors” and the University has been here and will continue to have a football team after everyone in here leaves this old green earth! So stop with the they’re gonna negative recruit against US!!!! That will never stop.