Jim Harbaugh has the Michigan Wolverines within the nationwide championship recreation of the School Soccer Playoff in opposition to the Washington Huskies within the first main sports activities occasion of 2024. Whereas Michigan performs for its first nationwide title since its 1997 break up with Nebraska, rumors connecting Harbaugh to the NFL have grown louder than ever.

Harbaugh acquired a number of suspensions this season. Dishonest allegations have hung over this system within the type of a sign-stealing scheme engineered by former offensive analyst Connor Stalions. As Michigan has saved successful to place itself within the closing school soccer recreation of the yr, there’s renewed momentum connecting Harbaugh to the NFL after this season.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders each need Harbaugh this season, in accordance with The Athletic, with the coach additionally having curiosity in LA. The Washington Commanders are additionally enthusiastic about Harbaugh after lastly firing Ron Rivera as head coach on Black Monday, in accordance with stories. Extra groups could be a part of the fray because the NFL’s end-of-season group interviews play out.

The NFL highlight feels prefer it’s shining brighter than ever on Harbaugh heading into the nationwide championship. In actuality, Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors have been an annual incidence for years.

Newest Jim Harbaugh NFL teaching rumors

• On Monday, January 15 the Los Angeles Chargers introduced they’d accomplished an interview with Harbaugh:

• The Commanders have curiosity in Harbaugh after firing head coach Ron Rivera on Monday, in accordance with Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. Former Golden State Warriors government Bob Myers is working with the Commanders as an advisor through the offseason, and has reached out to Harbaugh’s agent to gauge his curiosity.
• There’s been rampant hypothesis about Harbaugh going to the Los Angeles Chargers contained in the NFL, in accordance with The Athletic. “They need Harbaugh, and he desires them,” a veteran coach mentioned of the Chargers to The Athletic.

Nearly for the reason that second Jim Harbaugh returned to Ann Arbor to teach his alma mater, the tales surfaced.

No, not tales relating to controversy or suspensions, however fairly breathless hypothesis about when, not if, Harbaugh would return to the NFL.

Such stories surfaced in the course of his first yr at Michigan. In the course of the fall of 2015, two potential NFL touchdown spots emerged for his providers: The Miami Dolphins, after they fired Joe Philbin after a 1-3 begin, and the Indianapolis Colts, who was reportedly within the midst of a feud with administration.

Some went so far as to ensure that Harbaugh could be in Indianapolis in 2016, reunited with Andrew Luck. Harbaugh coached Luck at Stanford.

The rumors persevered all through October of 2015, forcing Harbaugh to lastly tackle them. Bear in mind Michigan’s beautiful loss to Michigan State that yr, on a botched punt through the recreation’s closing play? The coach felt compelled to deal with the NFL rumors after that loss, along with … (/gestures within the common course of all the pieces else he needed to tackle after that loss.)

“I gained’t touch upon it; it’s disrespectful to the sport,” mentioned Harbaugh on the time. “I take a look at it as disrespectful.”

Sadly for Harbaugh the “disrespectful” rumors have been simply getting began.

As a result of the next season, the cycle continued. An NFL job opened up, and Harbaugh was instantly linked to the spot. This time it was in Los Angeles, the place the Rams parted methods with head coach Jeff Fisher in December of 2016. Would Harbaugh need to leap again to the NFC West, with an opportunity to play — and beat — the 49ers twice a season? The storylines wrote themselves. The Harbaugh-to-LA story was thought of a “very actual chance.”

As soon as extra, Harbaugh pushed again. Tougher this time. Talking to his group, he referred to as the rumors “lies made up by our enemies:”

“He addressed it to us yesterday,” senior defensive finish Chris Wormley advised Wolverine247. “I couldn’t see any purpose why he would need to depart right here in any case. He loves it right here. I can’t see him leaving anytime quickly.”

Senior defensive deal with Ryan Glasgow, who introduced he’ll play within the Senior Bowl subsequent month on Tuesday, mentioned Harbaugh addressed the rumors vigorously and straight with the group.

“He mentioned ‘Look guys, brief, candy, to the purpose, I’m not leaving, don’t fear about it’. These are lies made up by our enemies’,” Glasgow mentioned through the group’s bust on Tuesday night time. “It received the group riled up. We don’t need any enemies infiltrating our fortress.”

Shortly, 2016 turned 2017, and the cycle started anew.

Michigan started the 2017 season with four-straight wins, rising to No. 7 within the rankings. However losses to Michigan State and Penn State over the course of three weeks in October put an enormous dent of their aspirations for the season. They climbed again into the top-25, however completed the yr with three-straight losses, two to Wisconsin and Ohio State (a pair of top-10 ranked groups) after which to South Carolina within the Outback Bowl.

However as Michigan’s season wound down, the NFL rumors kicked up once more. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports activities outlined various touchdown sports activities for Harbaugh, writing that “he’s hardly off the NFL radar since returning to school teaching, and a few near the coach consider a return to the NFL in some unspecified time in the future is inevitable.”

Experiences even surfaced of a possible commerce between the 49ers and the Cleveland Browns for Harbaugh again within the fall of 2014, which the coach finally nixed as a result of he thought higher alternatives could be obtainable on the finish of the season. However with the Browns limping to an 0-16 file, parting methods with Hue Jackson was a chance, which resurfaced the Harbaugh-to-Cleveland thought. Different choices such because the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders have been talked about.

So, forward of the Outback Bowl, Harbaugh carried out what had develop into an annual ritual, and brushed the NFL rumors apart.

“That’s like warmed up oatmeal,” Harbaugh mentioned on the time. “(I can examine) it to one thing else. When it’s rehashed or warmed up, it’s not good anymore. Oatmeal. That’s the very first thing that involves thoughts.

“I’m not an enormous fan of warmed up oatmeal.”

You’ll be able to most likely see the sample forming, so let’s flip to 2018. Michigan misplaced at Notre Dame to open the season, however rattled off 10-straight wins to enhance to 10-1, forward of their annual conflict with Ohio State. The Wolverines have been ranked No. 4 for that recreation, with the Buckeyes coming in because the No. 10 group within the nation.

Ohio State hung 62 on the Wolverines within the a hundred and fifteenth installment of “The Sport,” because the Buckeyes gained by a closing rating of 62-39. Whereas each Ohio State and Michigan completed with 8-1 data in Huge Ten play — which made the groups co-champions of the Huge Ten East, Michigan’s first division title — Ohio State went on to the Huge Ten Championship Sport, whereas the Wolverines headed to the Peach Bowl.

After the loss to Ohio State, the NFL rumors began:

Harbaugh once more shot down the rumors, linking them to an try to harm him and Michigan throughout recruiting season.

“This can be a choreographed message that comes up presently yearly earlier than signing day,” Harbaugh advised ESPN on the time. “It’s individuals spreading messages to additional their very own private agenda. However I’m on file proper right here, proper now: I’m not going anyplace. I’m staying at Michigan. Now we have huge plans right here, and there’s so much we need to accomplish.

“I can’t be any extra clear about this — it’s not true. I’m not going anyplace.”

The sample performed out once more in 2019. The Wolverines started the yr ranked within the top-10, suffered a couple of losses through the season, misplaced to Ohio State, and Harbaugh was compelled to dismiss rumors of an “exit technique” and a return to the NFL. After Joel Klatt of FOX Sports activities speculated that Harbaugh may eve retire, stories emerged that the coach was eying an “exit technique” from Michigan, and that his representatives have been contacting NFL groups.

The coach dismissed these stories in a letter to folks of Michigan gamers:

Then in 2020 all the pieces modified.

Actually, properly, all the pieces.

COVID-19 upended the world, truncated the Huge Ten season, and Michigan limped to a 2-4 end. That quieted the NFL rumors for some time.

However not for good.

As a result of in 2021 Michigan was good. Excellent. The Wolverines started the yr unranked, however stormed via the Huge Ten East, rising to No. 6 within the rankings forward of an enormous recreation at Michigan State, when the Spartans have been ranked No. 8.

Michigan misplaced that recreation, however solely fell to No. 7 within the rankings. They gained their subsequent three video games, establishing an enormous contest in opposition to Ohio State in that yr’s installment of “The Sport.” The Wolverines have been No. 5, and the Buckeyes have been No. 2.

That yr in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh received his huge win over Ohio State.

That victory catapulted Michigan into the Huge Ten Championship Sport, and their ensuing win over Iowa put the Wolverines into the School Soccer Playoff for the primary time at school historical past. Whereas Michigan misplaced to Georgia by a closing rating of 34-11, the Wolverines have been again.

So too have been the “Harbaugh to the NFL” rumors.

Solely this time, they have been extra than simply rumors. Harbaugh interviewed for the vacant Minnesota Vikings job.

“There was a tugging at me that I used to be as soon as that near a Tremendous Bowl and I didn’t get it. Some NFL jobs got here open. I used to be contacted by the (Minnesota) Vikings,” Harbaugh advised Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press again in February of 2022.

“For higher or for worse, it was one thing I needed to discover. I went in considering, ‘I’m gonna have one hundred pc conviction on this, and in the event that they (Minnesota) have one hundred pc conviction on this, then it’s one thing I’m gonna do.”

Nevertheless, through the course of Harbaugh determined his coronary heart was nonetheless in Ann Arbor.

“I referred to as Warde (Manuel, the Michigan athletic director) and I requested him if he needed me to be the top coach. And he mentioned, ‘Sure, one hundred pc.’ And I mentioned, OK then. That’s what I need to do.’ “And I advised him, ‘Warde, this is not going to be a reoccurring theme yearly. This was a one-time factor,” Harbaugh mentioned to Albom.

Solely … the rumors returned through the 2022 season. Michigan made one other run to the School Soccer Playoff — beating Ohio State once more — but misplaced to TCU. Because the Wolverines season unfolded, story after story was written about Harbaugh making a return to the NFL. It was additionally outlined that the deal Harbaugh inked with Michigan after his interview with the Vikings contained only a $3 million buyout in yr one, which could make it the best time for Harbaugh to go away.

Harbaugh mentioned forward of the Fiesta Bowl that he could be “enthusiastically” teaching Michigan in 2023, however the loss to the Horned Frogs kicked the rumors into overdrive. The Athletic reported that it might be a “accomplished deal” if Harbaugh was supplied an NFL job, and Harbaugh reportedly had a “dialog” — however not a technical interview — with Carolina Panthers proprietor David Tepper in early 2023.

Then got here stories that Harbaugh had met with the brand new possession group of the Denver Broncos relating to their vacant head coach place:

In the end, the Broncos went with Sean Payton, the Panthers went with Frank Reich, and Harbaugh was again at Michigan for the 2023 season. He put out an announcement to that impact early in 2023. “I like the relationships that I’ve at Michigan — coaches, employees, households, administration, president Santa Ono and particularly the gamers and their households,” Harbaugh mentioned in an announcement. “My coronary heart is on the College of Michigan. I as soon as heard a smart man say, ‘Don’t attempt to out-happy, blissful.’ Go Blue!”

However to say this has been a typical season for the Wolverines could be deceptive. In any case, Harbaugh has served a pair of suspensions, and the Wolverines are on the cusp of successful their first title with him on the helm.

Might this now be the yr he makes the leap again to the NFL?

For those who look across the present NFL panorama, there are actually some choices for him ought to he entertain a return to the league. The Panthers are once more on the lookout for a head coach, and Tepper may take one other run at Harbaugh. The Los Angeles Chargers are one other touchdown spot, and Harbaugh may very well be enticed by the possibility to teach Justin Herbert. Then there are some potential touchdown spots that might open up within the subsequent few days, together with the Chicago Bears, the place Harbaugh was as soon as a participant.

And perhaps, simply perhaps, the New England Patriots.

Michigan may assume that is the yr that Harbaugh makes the leap. The varsity is reportedly seeking to ink Harbaugh to a brand new 10-year deal, however one which incorporates a clause the place the NFL is a no-go for the coach for 2024. Harbaugh was requested concerning the NFL rumors forward of the Rose Bowl, and largely evaded the query:

He did the identical after Michigan’s thrilling win over Alabama. “My future consists of a cheerful flight again to Ann Arbor, Michigan,” Harbaugh mentioned after beating the Crimson Tide. “Can’t wait.”

Within the days for the reason that Rose Bowl, extra tales have emerged about Harbaugh doubtlessly heading to the NFL. Talking with Wealthy Eisen final week, NFL Community reporter Tom Pelissero outlined the choices which will await Harbaugh within the NFL. Then on the ultimate Sunday of the NFL common season, fellow NFL Community insider Ian Rapoport made it clear that a number of NFL groups will probably be , and that Harbaugh will probably be “open” to the transfer.

In fact, as we simply outlined this isn’t precisely new floor for Harbaugh. Solely this time it feels a bit completely different.

Why?

Bear in mind a couple of thousand phrases in the past, when Harbaugh as soon as shot down stories of a return to the NFL by noting that he didn’t have “illustration?”

Over the weekend it was reported that now, he does. Within the type of Don Yee, an agent whose shoppers embrace Tom Brady and Sean Payton.

So, is that this the yr the rumors lastly come true?

We’d know extra in a couple of brief days.