3 Reasons Jim Harbaugh won’t leave Michigan Football for NFL
Nothing but a contract negotiation
Jim Harbaugh proved that he’s an elite head coach in 2021. I don’t care what happened in the Orange Bowl. Harbaugh beat Ohio State, won 12 games, and reached the playoff.
That’s what he was brought to Michigan football to do and it’s time he was rewarded with a handsome contract extension.
Harbaugh said he didn’t care about the money last week and he probably doesn’t on some level. But there is no way he deserves less money than Mel Tucker and James Franklin, two guys who just finished third and fourth in the Big Ten East.
As Zach Shaw of 247 sports points out, Harbaugh was darn good before that too, ranking seventh in the FBS in wins per season during his first six full campaigns.
Michigan has averaged 9.83 wins in Jim Harbaugh's 6 full seasons — 7th among P5 teams. His salary was No. 32 nationally in 2021.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) January 4, 2022
It's not "just the market" and Harbaugh isn't some overpaid pariah. He delivered a season 124+ FBS ADs would kill for, and has been good for years. https://t.co/EXVpCHQLyb
Harbaugh will get his money. That’s not the issue. But according to John Bacon, a bestselling author and well-known source for inside Michigan info, tweeted this:
Yes, I've heard rumblings about @CoachJim4UM going to the NFL, but I've heard those 100X before and they've never amounted to anything. Doesn't mean they couldn't this time - never say never in CFB - but I've heard nothing concrete to convince me any change is imminent. FWIW.
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) January 5, 2022
But more importantly, this tweet is about Harbaugh trying to use this leverage in order for Michigan football to get a more competitive NIL program.
My take: both @AdamSchefter and @BruceFeldmanCFB are serious journalists. Confident no one's making anything up, but haven't heard nearly enough at this stage to conclude any change is imminent.
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) January 5, 2022
Keep an eye on UM's offer, including possible NIL program. Could end rumors quickly.
Harbaugh isn’t an idiot. He knows that the playing field isn’t level right now between Michigan and schools like Bama, Georgia, A&M, and even Ohio State. The Wolverines need to up their NIL game and a pledge to do that, along with getting more money, would be a genius move.
He’s got the leverage right now to make change and if the University of Michigan balks, maybe he would walk away knowing even his absolute best wouldn’t be good enough.
But I don’t see that happening. Here’s the final reason.